Utilization of Waste Plastic Shreds

for Stabilization of Soil

Shwetha Prasanna

Abstract When soil available for construction is not suitable for the intended
purpose, then soil stabilization is required. In this study, two soil samples were
collected from Margoa, Goa State and were reinforced with waste plastic shreds.
These plastic shreds were obtained from plastic packaging waste which would
cause a major disposal problem for the environment. Waste plastic shreds were
added in varying percentages like 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% to the soil samples as a
reinforcement material. From compaction test, maximum dry density (MDD) and
optimum moisture content (OMC) were determined and shear strength parameters
(cohesion and friction) were obtained from box or direct shear test. For the first soil
sample, there was a decrease in MDD, OMC, and cohesion and a slight increase in
friction with an increase in the percentage of reinforcement. For the second sample
also, almost the same results were obtained that means decrease in MDD, OMC,
and cohesion and a slight increase in friction with increase in the percentage of
reinforcement. The decrease in maximum dry density of soil must be due to low
specific gravity of plastic shreds. Also it has been observed that adding beyond 10%
of plastic waste would not vary much in MDD value. The present work concluded
that the stabilized soil could be utilized for roadways, parking areas, site devel-
opment projects, airports, and many other situations where subsoils are not suitable
for construction.

Keywords Soil
Stabilization
Plastic waste

S. Prasanna (&)
Department of Civil Engineering, Don Bosco College of Engineering,
Fatorda 403602, Goa, India
e-mail: shwethaprasanna@gmail.com

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019 619

R. Sundaram et al. (eds.), Geotechnics for Transportation Infrastructure,
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 29,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6713-7_49
620 S. Prasanna

1 Introduction

If the engineering properties of soil are undesirable and not suitable for construction
purposes, then soil stabilization is required. Soil stabilization process improves the
shear strength parameters and controls the shrink–swell properties of a soil. So it
helps to enhance the physical properties and load-bearing capacity of a soil. It is
mainly used to increase bearing capacity of a subgrade soil to support pavements
and foundations. In earth structures, it is used to reduce permeability and com-
pressibility of the soil mass. So overall it is the process of alteration or preservation
of one or more soil properties to improve the engineering characteristics and per-
formance of a soil. In this process, a special soil, cementing material, or other
chemical materials are added to a natural soil to improve its properties. It can be
achieved by mechanically mixing the natural soil and stabilizing material together
so as to achieve a homogeneous mixture. Otherwise by adding stabilizing material
to an undisturbed soil deposit and obtaining interaction by letting it permeate
through soil voids (Perloff 1976). Reinforced soil is the one in which soil fill is
strengthened by a variety of tensile inclusions. These tensile inclusions are in many
forms ranging from strips and grids to discrete fibers and woven and nonwoven
fabrics.
Nowadays the volume of plastic material in municipal solid waste generated
across the world has grown because of the widespread increase of single-use
plastics in day-to-day consumer applications. More than 50% of the discarded
plastics come from packaging applications. So, waste plastic becomes the main
problem in many areas, especially in landfills. These waste plastics are not a
biodegradable material, hence, may cause serious environmental pollution also,
Siddiqui (2009). In the past few decades, the rate of production of plastic waste has
been increased tremendously in almost all parts of the world due to population
growth, industrialization, and technological development. The conventional waste
disposal methods are found to be inadequate. In this regard, a small attempt has
been made in this research work to use waste plastic as a reinforcing material to
improve the strength of soil.
The usage of plastic waste for soil stabilization was studied in research programs
from around the world. Khedari et al. (2005) developed a new type of soil–cement
block using coconut coir with low thermal conductivity. They considered various
mixture ratios and fabricated five specimens per sample using local handmade
manufacturing process. In their study, thermal conductivity, compressive strength,
weight, and bulk density of specimens were investigated, and they concluded that
the use of coconut fiber as an admixture can reduce the block thermal conductivity
and weight. Babu and Vasudevan (2008) studied strength and stiffness response of
coir fiber-reinforced tropical soil. They reported that the strength and stiffness of
tropical soil were increased with the inclusion of about 1–2% discrete coir fibers by
weight. Subaida et al. (2009) carried out research on laboratory performance of
unpaved roads reinforced with woven coir geotextiles. Their test results indicated
that the inclusion of coir geotextiles enhanced bearing capacity of thin sections.
Utilization of Waste Plastic Shreds for Stabilization of Soil 621

Placement of geotextile at the interface of the subgrade and base course increased
load-carrying capacity significantly at large deformations. Also they found that
considerable improvement in bearing capacity when coir geotextile was placed
within the base course at all levels of deformations. The plastic surface deformation
under repeated loading was greatly reduced by the inclusion of coir geotextiles
within the base course irrespective of base course thickness. Muntohar (2009)
investigated the strength of stabilized clay soil reinforced with randomly distributed
discrete plastic waste fibers by carrying out unconfined compressive strength and
tensile-split strength test. In their study, the clay soil was stabilized with lime and
rice husk ash mixtures. The effect of the fiber length and content on the compressive
and split tensile strength was investigated. Their laboratory investigation results
showed that inclusion of the plastic waste fiber increased unconfined strength and
tensile-split strength of the stabilized clay soil significantly. Dasaka and Sumesh
(2011) reported that varying the length of coir fibers and content in soil results in an
improvement in the strength characteristics. Hejazi et al. (2012) reviewed the use of
natural and synthetic fibers as construction and building materials and reported that
fiber reinforcement improves the strength and stiffness of composite soil. Azzam
(2013) studied behavior of modified clay microstructure using polymer nanocom-
posites technique. They illustrated the application of using polymer stabilization in
creating a new nanocomposite material with clay soil. Their experimental results
showed that the resulting nanocomposites acted as nanofiller materials which
decreased the plasticity and compressibility parameters of the treated clay. Gupta
and Sharma (2016) studied black cotton soil modification by the application of
waste materials. They presented an approach of improvement in the various
geotechnical properties of black cotton soil, by blending it with waste materials
such as river sand, fly ash, and marble dust. They observed that the impact effect of
waste materials on the environment was reduced mainly due to optimum utilization
of these waste materials in the improvement of various properties of black cotton
soil. Prasanna and Kumar (2017) carried out a research on soil reinforcement using
coconut shell ash as waste material for Indian soil. By comparing all the results,
they observed that Atterberg’s limits such as maximum liquid limit was achieved at
2% and maximum plastic limit was at 10% coconut shell ash reinforcement. Then
regarding compaction, they concluded that by adding at 0.8% of waste achieved
maximum improvement of MDD and OMC. From direct shear test results, they
concluded that angle of internal friction and cohesion was achieved at the range of
0.4–0.8%.
A very few literatures are available on stabilization of sandy soils with shredded
plastic wastes for the coastal region of Goa, India. This article is the one which
provides various properties of soil and explains how the properties of soil can be
stabilized using shredded plastic wastes for the region under consideration. The
main objectives of this study are to: To carry out physical test on soil without
reinforcement, to carry out physical test on soil with reinforcement (shredded
plastic waste) in varying percentages, to analyze the specimen for shear strength
and compaction, to compare results of the test conducted on ordinary soil and soil
with reinforcement.
622 S. Prasanna

2 Materials and Methodology

The soil samples used in this study were obtained as undistributed samples along
the coastal region of Goa. The study area falls under the district of South Goa in the
Taluka of Salcete in India. The samples were taken from Fatorda village falling in
the above said region. The samples were of sandy-textured soil. The shredded
plastic wastes (Fig. 1) were collected from plastic packaging industry. In this
project work, experimental study was conducted with shredded plastic waste as
reinforcing material to increase the strength of soil. Different tests were conducted
on soil sample with varying percentage of shredded plastic waste. The samples were
subjected to different laboratory tests, such as moisture content, bulk density,
specific gravity, particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, compaction, and direct
shear test.

3 Results and Discussion

Undisturbed samples were collected from the field and different laboratory tests
were conducted. Moisture content and specific gravity of the sample 1 was found to
be 13.41 and 2.76%, respectively. Sieve test was performed on sample 1 and
identified soil as sandy soil. Then Atterberg’s limit (liquid limit and plastic limit)
test was performed on sample 1. The values of liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL),
and plasticity index (PI) obtained were 26.3, 9.69, and 16.51%, respectively.
Reinforcement analysis was done only for compaction and direct shear tests with
different percentages of shredded plastic wastes. After that, optimum moisture
content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) were found by compaction test.
The following results were observed for the sample 1. OMC was found to be 19.5%
and MDD was 2.05 g/cm3. After addition of shredded plastic wastes as rein-
forcement in various percentages, the following changes were obtained. For addi-
tion of 2% of shredded plastic wastes, OMC and MDD were decreased to 19.1%
and 1.86 g/cm3. Again after addition of another 2% that is a total of 4% shredded
plastic wastes, OMC and MDD were 17.5% and 1.76 g/cm3, respectively. Here also
OMC and MDD reduced slightly. For 6% of shredded plastic wastes, OMC and
MDD again decreased by 16.82% and 1.72 g/cm3, respectively. At 8%, OMC and
MDD was 15.45% and 1.7 g/cm3, respectively. Again OMC and MDD were
decreased to 14.3% and 1.54 g/cm3 with addition of 10% of shredded plastic
wastes. From this, it could be observed that with the addition of shredded plastic
wastes as reinforcement, optimum moisture content, and maximum dry density
were decreased. The results are shown in the following Table 1. Figure 2 shows the
results of OMC and MDD with different percentages of shredded plastic waste for
sample 1.
For sample 2 also, similar tests were conducted. Moisture content and specific
gravity were 15.22 and 2.42%, respectively. From the sieve test, it was found that
Utilization of Waste Plastic Shreds for Stabilization of Soil 623

Fig. 1 Plastic shredding

machine and shredded plastic

soil belongs to sandy soil. Atterberg’s limit, i.e., LL was 32.4%, PL was 16.41%,
and PI was 15.99. Then compaction test was carried out and found OMC (23.52%)
and MDD (1.50 g/cm3) without adding waste material. For this sample also, similar
trend was observed that is with the addition of shredded plastic wastes as rein-
forcement, optimum moisture content, and maximum dry density were decreased.
At 2%, OMC and MDD were 23% and 1.49 g/m3, at 4% OMC (21.93%) and MDD
(1.48 g/m3), at 6% OMC (21.60%) and MDD (1.47 g/m3), at 8% OMC (21.40%)
624 S. Prasanna

Table 1 Optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) with different
percentages of wastes for sample 1 and 2
% of plastic waste (%) Sample 1 Sample 2
0 OMC = 19.50% OMC = 23.52%
MDD = 2.05 g/cc MDD = 1.500 g/cc
2 OMC = 19.10% OMC = 23.00%
MDD = 1.86 g/cc MDD = 1.50 g/cc
4 OMC = 17.50% OMC = 21.93%
MDD = 1.77 g/cc MDD = 1.48 g/cc
6 OMC = 16.82% OMC = 21.60%
MDD = 1.72 g/cc MDD = 1.47 g/cc
8 OMC = 15.45% OMC = 21.40%
MDD = 1.70 g/cc MDD = 1.43 g/cc
10 OMC = 14.30% OMC = 20.40%
MDD = 1.54 g/cc MDD = 1.39 g/cc

Fig. 2 Optimum moisture 20

Optimum Moisture

content (OMC) and maximum

content (%)

dry density (MDD) with 15

different percentages of 10
wastes for sample 1
5
0
0% 2%
4% 6% 8% 10%
Percentage of waste
2.5
Maximum Dry Density

2
1.5
(g/cm3)

1
0.5
0
0% 2%
4% 6% 8% 10%
Percentage of waste

and MDD (1.43 g/m3), and at 10% OMC (20.4%) and MDD (1.40 g/m3),
respectively. This result shows that there was a slight reduction in MDD and OMC
values with increase in the percentage of reinforcement. It has been observed that
mixing beyond 10% of plastic waste would not vary much in MDD value. The
results are shown in Table 1. Figure 3 shows the results of OMC and MDD with
different percentages of shredded plastic waste for sample 2.
Utilization of Waste Plastic Shreds for Stabilization of Soil 625

Fig. 3 Optimum moisture 24

Optimum Moisture
content (OMC) and maximum 23
dry density (MDD) with

Content (%)
22
different percentages of
21
wastes for sample 2
20
19
18
0% 2%
4% 6%
8% 10%
Percentage of waste

Maximum Dry Density

1.5

1.45

(g/cm3)
1.4

1.35
1.3
0% 2%
4% 6%
8% 10%
Percentage of waste

Then shear strength parameters of soil, i.e., cohesion (c) and angle of friction (/)
were determined using direct shear test. First for sample 1, unreinforced test was
conducted; a shredded plastic waste was not used. The following c = 0.195 kg/cm2
and / = 8° values were obtained. Generally, higher the friction and cohesion values
better are the shear strength of the soil and also the stability of the slope. Then soil
was reinforced with shredded plastic waste in different percentages. With 2% of
shredded plastic waste as reinforcement, the following c = 0.1 kg/cm2 and / = 8°
values were obtained. In this case, cohesive value decreased exponentially, but the
angle of internal friction remained the same. At 4%, c = 0.085 kg/cm2 and / = 9°.
Here cohesion decreased and friction increased slightly. At 6%, c = 0.1 kg/cm2 and
/ = 10.5°. Here both cohesion and friction were increased slightly. At 8%,
c = 0.095 kg/cm2 and / = 12° slight increase in friction value. At 10%, angle of
internal friction remained constant (/ = 12°) and cohesion increased to 0.14 kg/cm2.
Here it could be observed that an angle of internal friction increased exponentially,
but the cohesive value is reduced slightly. Further at 4, 6, 8, and 10% cohesion value
was varying but not linear in nature. The angle of internal friction was increased as
the percentage of reinforcement was increased. Figure 4 shows the comparison of
friction and cohesion values with different percentages of shredded plastic waste for
sample 1. Table 2 shows the results of direct shear test for sample 1 and 2.
For sample 2 also, direct shear test was conducted and found cohesion and
friction values. For unreinforced soil, i.e., without adding shredded plastic waste,
the following c = 0.24 kg/cm2 and / = 11° values were obtained. When reinforced
with shredded plastic waste, at 2%, c = 0.15 kg/cm2 and / = 13°, here cohesion
626 S. Prasanna

Fig. 4 Angle of internal 15

Angle of friction (°)

friction (/) and cohesion
(c) with different percentages
10
of waste for sample 1

0
0% 2%
4% 6% 8% 10%
Percentage of waste

0.2

Cohesion (kg/cm2)
0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0% 2%
4% 6% 8% 10%
Percentage of waste

Table 2 Angle of internal % of plastic waste (%) Sample 1 Sample 2

friction (/) and cohesion
(c) with different percentages 0 c = 0.195 kg/cm2 c = 0.24 kg/cm2
of wastes for sample 1 and 2 / = 8° / = 11°
2 c = 0.10 kg/cm2 c = 0.15 kg/cm2
/ = 8° / = 13°
4 c = 0.09 kg/cm2 c = 0.12 kg/cm2
/ = 9° / = 14°
6 c = 0.10 kg/cm2 c = 0.13 kg/cm2
/ = 10.5° / = 19°
8 c = 0.095 kg/cm2 c = 0.09 kg/cm2
/ = 12° / = 19°
10 c = 0.14 kg/cm2 c = 0.10 kg/cm2
/ = 12° / = 22°

was decreased slightly but friction was increased. At 4%, c = 0.12 kg/cm2 and
/ = 14°, again cohesion deceased and friction increased. At 6%, c = 0.13 kg/cm2
and / = 19°, here cohesion value decreased slightly but friction value increased
drastically. At 8%, c = 0.09 kg/cm2 and / = 19°. At 10%, c = 0.10 kg/cm2 and
/ = 22°. For both 8 and 10% cohesion value decreased and friction value
increased. So for this sample also the same conclusion was drawn that means the
angle of internal friction increases as the percentage of reinforcement increases. The
results are shown in Table 2 and Fig. 5.
Utilization of Waste Plastic Shreds for Stabilization of Soil 627

Fig. 5 Angle of internal 30

Angle of friction (°)

friction (/) and cohesion
(c) with different percentages
of waste for sample 2 20

10

0
0% 2%
4% 6% 8% 10%
Percentage of waste

0.3

Cohesion (kg/cm2) 0.2

0.1

0
0% 2%
4% 6% 8% 10%
Percentage of waste

4 Conclusions

Shredded plastic waste can be considered as an eco-friendly material for soil sta-
bilization. It has lower carbon content than cement or other hydraulic binders. In
this study, considerable results were obtained by mixing soil with various per-
centages of waste shredded plastic. An addition of shredded plastic waste decreased
the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of the soil. The angle of
internal friction (/) increased and cohesion (c) decreased considerably with
inclusion of different percentages of shredded plastic waste in both soil samples.
This study suggests that if shredded plastic is properly mixed and applied, then it
could be used as an economical soil stabilization material. And also it eradicates the
disposal problem of plastic waste. Further research in this field may shed light on
the application of plastic material for stabilization of soil. Finally, this study con-
cluded that shredded plastic waste could be used as one of the waste materials for
soil reinforcement in the region under consideration.

Acknowledgements Author thanks the anonymous referees for their valuable suggestions. And
also Rituja Tari, Pooja Naik, Shriya Usgaonker, Dhanada Mayeker, Rajeshwari Palni and Radhiya
Chodnekar for their help in conducting the experiments related to this project.
628 S. Prasanna

References

Azzam WR (2013) Behavior of modified clay microstructure using polymer nanocomposites

technique. Alexandria Eng J Fac Geoeng 12:143–150
Babu S, Vasudevan K (2008) Strength and stiffness response of coir fiber-reinforced tropical soil.
J Mater Civ Eng ASCE 20:571–577
Chayan G, Ravi KS (2016) Black cotton soil modification by the application of waste materials.
Periodica Polytech Civ Eng 60:479–490
Dasaka SM, Sumesh KS (2011) Effect of coir fibre on the stress–strain behavior of a reconstituted
fine-grained soil. J Nat Fibre 8:189–204
Hejazi SM, Sheikhzadeh M, Abtahi SM, Zadhoush A (2012) A simple review of soil
reinforcement by using natural and synthetic fibers. Constr Build Mater 30:100–116
Khedari J, Watsanasathaporn P, Hirunlabh J (2005) Development of fiber-based soil–cement block
with low thermal conductivity. Cem Concr Compos 27:111–116
Muntohar AS (2009) Influence of plastic waste fibers on the strength of lime-rice husk ash
stabilized clay soil. Civ Eng Dim 11:32–40
Perloff WH (1976) Soil mechanics, principals and application. Wiley, New York
Sherwood P (1993) Soil stabilization with cement and lime, state of the art review. Transport
Research Laboratory, HMSO, London
Shwetha P, Prasanna Kumar N (2017) Soil reinforcement using coconut shell ash: a case study of
Indian soil. J Civ Eng Constr 6:73–78
Siddiqui MN (2009) Conversion of hazardous plastic wastes into useful chemical products.
J Hazard Mater 167:28–35
Subaida A, Chandrakaran E, Sankar N (2009) Laboratory performance of unpaved roads
reinforced with woven coir. Geotext Geomembr 27:204–210