We know our electronics contain precious metals that can easily be reused, but what happens to the plastic pieces holding our electronics together? We’ve mentioned Adidas for fashioning ocean plastic waste into top-selling shoes and clothing. Other countries have experimented with plastic waste to build roads and buildings. In India, scientists have found an efficient way to re-use their own electronic plastic waste.
Most concrete is made with sand, but we are finding other materials that can be used. Instead of using the granules in sand to make concrete, it can be replaced with compounded plastic granules and maintain relatively the same strength. Replacing the sand with plastic makes the concrete lighter in weight, which is great for building roads and bridges (Resource-Recycling). According to Equipment World’s Better Roads, using this alternative, “could save 820 million tons of sand per year and reduce the plastic waste levels”.