Comparing the Properties of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Bricks to Conventional Concrete Masonry Units

This paper investigates the viability of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bricks as a replacement for concrete masonry units as a building material. The underlying goal is to validate the pursuit of production and testing of recycled PET bricks. Recycled plastic bricks have the potential to divert valuable post-consumer plastic waste from landfills, locking up this plastic for decades to come. A comparison of the material properties, as well as the greater societal impacts, of virgin PET and concrete comprise this study. The compressive strengths of the two materials are compared using both published data and a computational analysis. The toxic substances released during production and post-production of concrete and PET are examined, to gain a deeper understanding of the overall impact these materials have on human health.