SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE IN PAVEMENT BLOCKS: A CIRCULAR ECONOMY APPROACH

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented rise in the generation of biomedical waste, particularly disposable face masks, gloves, and saline bottles made predominantly of non-biodegradable polypropylene. Improper disposal of these materials poses severe environmental and health hazards. This study presents an innovative and sustainable approach by incorporating sterilized biomedical plastic waste into the production of concrete pavement blocks. The primary objective is to explore the feasibility of recycling biomedical plastic waste as a partial substitute for coarse aggregates in concrete without significantly compromising the mechanical properties of the blocks. Concrete blocks were prepared by replacing natural aggregates with shredded biomedical plastic waste at varying percentages (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). Comprehensive tests including compressive strength and water absorption were conducted to evaluate the structural and durability performance. The results demonstrated that blocks with up to 15% replacement exhibited acceptable strength and reduced water absorption, confirming the potential of this technique for low-load applications. This study contributes toward pollution mitigation, resource conservation, and the advancement of circular economy practices in construction.