Chapter I

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

In today's society a lot of people uses plastic as a reservoir for a lot of things such as
drinking water, food, unused things, garbage, etc. According to Phil Star Global article by
Rhodina Villanueva, a list was released early of February 2015 in the Journal of Science which
states that right after China and Indonesia; Philippines is the 3 rd largest manufacturers of plastic
waste in the ocean. This indicates a big problem to those who are affected by plastic pollution
like living organisms and generally, the environment.
The best way to reduce the amount of plastic pollution is to reuse and recycle them. This
study is dealing with a type of plastic which is called P.E.T. According to NAPCOR or National
Association for PET Container Resources, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is the most
common type of polyester which is composed of two monomers such as modified ethylene
glycol and purified terephthalic acid. P.E.T. is labeled as 1 based on the ASTM International
Resin Identification Coding System and it is used as a storage of a lot of things such as potable
water, food, condiments, and even items that is not edible. NAPCOR also specified that 1 is
the universal recycling symbol.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) states that the Philippines, as of
2014, have 27,816.46 km of paved roads and the budget of DPWH in year 2016 for Highways
alone is Php 122,878,425. If the result turns out to be positive, this budget can be decreased
which can then be added to the national budget of the Philippines and redistributed to other

departments. This is due to the fact that P.E.T. bottles are cheap and are used as recyclables in the
experimental asphalt mix.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Plastic waste is problematic if not taken care of because it decomposes slowly. Even if
there are a number of ways to recycle plastic, the number waste coming from it is still high. So
by using P.E.T. bottles in an asphalt mix and using it as pavements and highways, it will surely
help decrease the plastic waste in the country.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The researchers' main objective is to analyze the effects of mixing plastic from P.E.T.
bottles to asphalt. These effects are through the changes in the properties of asphalt with or
without the addition of the plastic substance. Some key points of the objective includes the
following:

To identify the different effects (positive or negative) of mixing plastic to asphalt

To measure the flexibility, permeability, load capacity, durability, skid resistance, and
resistance to stresses (tensile and compressive) due to temperature

To determine the optimum plastic to bitumen to aggregates ratio

1.4 Significance of the Study

The primary beneficiary of this research is the environment. Mixing P.E.T. bottles to
asphalt will help in recycling used plastic wastes, thus decreasing the pollution it causes to our
environment. This study can also be important to highway construction if the resulting asphalt
mix with P.E.T. bottles promotes a positive change to the asphalts properties. It can also
potentially decrease the cost of production of asphalt mixes. Moreover, it will help increase the
national budget of the Philippines by putting the maintenance budget of pavements to other
department that needed it more.

1.5 Date and Place of the Study

The researchers plan to make the asphalt mix in Malayan Colleges Laguna then take it to
SGS Philippines located at 21F Bldg. 2229 Chino Roces Avenue Makati, Metro Manila
Philippines. The researchers plan to start and finish the whole research within 2017 to 2018
school year.

CHAPTER III
Methodology

3.1 Preparation of Materials

The primary materials that are needed to make an asphalt mix, which are bitumen and
mineral aggregates, will be bought by the researchers. The researchers will collect P.E.T. Bottles
that are already used so it satisfies the idea of recycling. The researchers will ask permission to
put garbage bins only for P.E.T bottles in Malaya Colleges Laguna to later collect them.

3.2 Procedure
In order to gather data and fulfill the objectives of the study, an experiment will be
conducted. The step by step procedure is listed below.

3.2.1. Formation of the Asphalt Mixes

First, in order to know the optimum plastic to bitumen to aggregates ratio, several
asphalt mixes will be made. The mixtures will contain a constant amount of bitumen and
aggregates with varying amounts of plastic from the P.E.T. bottles. The P.E.T. bottles will
be molten down to a liquid form which will then be mixed with the bitumen. The mixture
will be mixed well so that it achieves a homogenous mixture. Then it will be mixed with
the aggregates and let it settle to form into a solid asphalt mix. After, the optimum plastic
to bitumen to aggregates ratio will be used to make another sample of asphalt mix for the
test to compare asphalt with and without melted P.E.T. bottles in it.

3.2.2. Testing of the Asphalt Mixes

The asphalt mixes will be brought to the testing facility (SGS Philippines) to test
the different properties such as the optimum plastic to bitumen to aggregates ratio,
flexibility, permeability, load capacity, durability, skid resistance, and resistance to tensile
and compressive stresses. The data will be gathered afterwards.

3.2.3. Comparison of data

The data gathered from testing the different asphalt mixes will then be compared
with each other to identify which plastic to bitumen to aggregates ratio produces the best
asphalt mix. The properties of the asphalt mix with the best results will then be compared
to the properties of a normal asphalt mix without the plastic.

3.3 Flowchart of the procedure

Collection of P.E.T.
Bottles

Mixing Asphalt with varying

amount of melted P.E.T.
bottles to know the optimum
ratio

Testing of the
Asphalt Mixes

Mixing Asphalt using the

optimum plastic to bitumen
to aggregates ratio

Testing of the Asphalt mixes

with and without melted
P.E.T. bottles

Gathering of
Data

Comparison of
Data

3.4 Gantt Chart

Activities
Buying Bitumen and Aggregates
Collection of P.E.T. Bottles
Making the asphalt mixes to know
the optimum ratio of bitumen to
P.E.T. bottles to aggregates
Making asphalt mixes with and
without melted P.E.T. bottles
Taking the asphalt mixes to the
testing facility
Gathering of data
Interpretation of results
Conclusion

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