<p><strong>Recycled plastic bottles in the blockmaking process</strong></p>

<p>Ms. Tajwattie Persaud, a student of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, has investigated the impact on the compressive strength of hollow concrete blocks (HCBs) when plastic bottle flakes are integrated as a partial substitute for sand.</p>

<p>It should be noted that in Guyana there is little to no resource recovery practices done for the management of plastic bottle wastes. This leads to the pollution of streets, water bodies and the surrounding environment, posing the risk of flooding, degradation of land and marine species, all of which adversely affect the health of both humans and the environment.</p>

<p>For her research project, Ms. Persaud collected more than 60 garbage bags of plastic bottles from two communities - Parfait Harmony Community and Plastic City in Vreed-en-hoop - as part of a clean-up drive. A significant amount of the plastic bottles was recycled for use in this experiment with the remainder being diverted to landfill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The research process involved having the plastic bottles washed and hand chipped into flakes before being added into the modified cement mix at ratios of 5 and 10 percent. The ten percent HCBs met the requirements of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) for compressive strength and was certified for use in building construction.</p>

<p>Ms. Persaud expressed confidence that if a project of this nature is given the necessary support to expand&nbsp;on a much larger scale, it could be very successful on various fronts, including; providing entrepreneurial opportunities, reducing the level of plastic wastes that pollute our environment and lowering the overhead costs for producing HCBs by replacing some amount of sand with recycled bottles.</p>

<p>The innovator is hoping to embark on an awareness&nbsp;campaign that will seek to educate persons about the project so that they will understand the rationale behind using recycled plastic bottles to reduce the amount of sand needed in the block making process while at the same time addressing the issue of reducing the amount of wastes that goes into the environment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Rice Husk and Rice Husk Ash in the Cement Block Making Process</strong></p>

<p>Lecturer Isidro Espinosa, attached to the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, is in the preliminary stages of creating concrete with rice husk and rice husk ash, as a substitute for sand in the concrete block making process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He explained rice husk is a by-product of the milling process and can be considered as a resource rather than a waste product.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Guyana produced more than 1 million tons of paddy in 2019 (GBTI, 2020) with its average equivalent in rice husk being about 200,000 metric tons. The innovator stated that rice husk&nbsp;can replace up to 30% of sand aggregate in the concrete making process since 80-90% of rice husk contains silicates which is the main component of sand (silica sand).</p>

<p>The benefits of using rice husk and rice husk ash include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Zero waste output</li>
	<li>Value is added to rice husk</li>
	<li>Reduction in cost from raw materials in the construction industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>The preliminary test shows that the utilisation of rice husk and rice husk ash as a component in concrete block or brick making allows for buildings to improve thermal insulation for hot climates like Guyana. It also gives buildings a soundproof effect.</p>

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<p><strong>Sawdust in Block-Making Process</strong></p>

<p>The project is being led by Mr. Mark Austin, a student within the Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture and Mr. Ewart Smith, a lecturer at UG and current PhD candidate at Trent University. It aims to utilise sawdust waste, which is an environmental hazard, to make cement blocks.</p>

<p>The objective of the project is to compare the rate of water absorption properties and compressive properties of sawdust blocks to determine their suitability for use in construction.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dean of the Faculty of the Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Lawrence Lewis explained that the project seeks to vary the ratio of the sawdust and the size of the sawdust to determine which can produce a composite block.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The project also utilises pre-treated sawdust removing the resin out of the wood which can&nbsp;inhibit the mixing and combining process of the sawdust.&nbsp;The blocks have met the ASTM standards for compressive strength and water holding capacity.</p>
