Low-impact concrete flower pots with recycled materials

Abstract

Broken glass, tiles, aluminium cups, and eggshells might not be thought of as materials that can be repurposed directly by households. Nonetheless, a -fusion of ingenuity and creativity can lead to repurposing this waste to make everyday objects! The practical component of Prof. Ruben Paul Borg's study-unit on Materials and the Environment allowed us first-year B.Sc. (Built Environment) students to explore the possibility of using waste materials as ingredients in producing concrete. This activity resulted in the production of an array of flowerpots, which help in reducing the carbon footprint of concrete manufacture. Considering that after water, concrete is the second most consumed substance in the world, and it the most widely used material in the construction industry with a large carbon footprint (the cement industry is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions!) – every little bit can help. In exploiting waste or industrial byproducts, more durable concrete can be produced, less non-renewable resources are consumed, whilst waste disposal is reduced through recycling. [excerpt]