CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FROM RECYCLED POLYMERS

The construction industry is one of the major end-users of polymeric m aterials, third in most developed countries behind packaging and trans portation in terms of total consumption. The high demand for building products with a significant plastics content creates a polymer disposa l problem as structures reach the end of their useful lives. The resul t is that polymer recycling is crucial for the future of construction, especially if the many advantages of plastics are to be a continuing factor in creating advanced building products. In addition, constructi on products and materials are potentially large end-uses for the growi ng volumes of post-consumer polymers that are being gathered in kerbsi de collection programs worldwide. Processes for recycling polymers int o construction materials such as plastic lumber are being developed in many countries. British and European industries are responding to gov ernment directives, such as the Duty of Care provision of the Environm ental Protection Act of 1992, that require that waste stream polymers should be used in an increasing number of applications. Recycling poly mers into construction materials depends on a wide variety of technica l and non-technical factors. The tremendous advantages of plasties and their ever-increasing utilization in building products is on a collis ion course with public alarm over the dwindling space available for di sposal of solid waste. The construction industry is being forced to co nsider the recycling of its demolition debris and to serve as an end-u ser of products from other recycling sectors: e.g. post-consumer plast ics. This Paper addresses the wide variety of issues that face the con tinued use of plastics in construction, and describes technologies and approaches that can lead to an increased rate of recycling of plastic s into construction materials.