Environmental Sustainability in Geotechnical Engineering: Promoting the Use of Eco-Friendly Material

Abstract

Utilizing waste plastic for soil stabilization presents an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional methods, aiding in the conservation of natural resources while enhancing soil's engineering properties. The continuous accumulation of plastic waste worldwide poses substantial environmental challenges, underscoring the urgent need for practical solutions. In this context, geotechnical engineering offers a promising avenue to transform these pressing environmental issues into beneficial and functional applications. Many construction projects also encounter challenges due to weak or unstable soils, which require improvement. This paper provides a comprehensive review of existing literature on incorporating waste plastic into geotechnical practices, with a particular focus on soil stabilization. The analysis reveals that waste plastics offer a green construction approach that minimizes carbon dioxide emissions, as these materials are both environmentally friendly and cost-effective in strengthening soils. Moreover, incorporating waste plastic bottles into the soil enhances its shear strength, load-bearing capacity, and compaction properties while reducing consolidation settlement, swelling, and the formation of cracks. Finally, this approach also shortens construction durations and helps minimize the need for land acquisition.