Sustainable use of plastic brick from waste PET plastic bottle as building block in Rohingya refugee camp: a review

Bangladesh is 10th among the major plastic waste contributor countries of the globe. Throughout the world, plastic waste disposal is a major concern since it is being nonbiodegradable in nature and hazardous, because of its potential harmful effect on human health and to the environment. Various studies have shown that waste PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottle filled with sand or other inorganic materials can serve as a useful building material where plastic waste management or recycling process is not very effective and particularly, in low-income communities. Plastic brick use in existing Rohingya refugee camp and newly proposed displacement camp in the coast island-Bhasan Char-as construction material to build new shelters, can be a sustainable use and management of country's plastic waste, and a feasible solution against the shelter issues of Rohingya people. The vulnerability due to heavy wind, monsoon rains, cyclones, and the gaps and lack in funding to build new rigid and safe shelters can be effectively mitigated by using this low-cost, environment-friendly plastic brick as building block in refugee camps.