Manufacturing of plastic tiles based on reinforced sisal and recycled plastic wastes: a case of Rwanda

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The rapid accumulation of plastic waste remains a major environmental and public health concerns worldwide, particularly in developing nations such as Rwanda, where discarded bottles and packaging strain waste systems and pollute soil and waterways. Meanwhile, the construction sector continues to depend on conventional materials with high environmental footprints, creating a demand for innovative, sustainable alternatives. This paper investigates the practical production and validation of Enviro-Friendly Plastic Tiles (EFPT) made from recycled thermoplastics reinforced with locally sourced sisal fibers. The paper demonstrates how high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) can be effectively reprocessed into durable construction materials through a structured experimental approach. The processes included collecting, sorting, washing, and shredding plastic wastes, followed by compounding them with fine aggregates such as sand and marble chips under controlled heat. Molded and compressed specimens were tested to determine key performance indicators. Experimental laboratory tests confirmed that 5% of sisal-reinforced mixture was achieved that demonstrated the best results, reaching a peak compressive strength of 41.66 MPa, well above minimum engineering requirement of 20 MPa as of ASTM C109/BS EN 12390–3 standards. In addition, the sisal reinforced plastic tiles exhibited excellent moisture resistance, with a mean water absorption of 0.225%, meeting ASTM D570 standards. These results have demonstrated that recycled plastic combined with natural sisal fibers can yield a cost effective, strong, and water-resistant building product. The study provides a viable pathway for integrating plastic waste management with sustainable construction practices, advancing Rwanda’s circular economy and green infrastructure goals. Future work can extend life cycle with crack and fracture prediction of these tiles using artificial intelligence technologies.

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