Tube shelters from agricultural plastic waste: An example of circular economy

Abstract

The use of recycled plastics in applications similar to those of the original plastic is of great 22 interest for the fulfillment of the circular economy policies objectives. In this work, the 23 feasibility of using recycled agricultural plastics in the manufacture of tube shelters for plant 24 seedlings, which can be used in forest restoration and other plantations, has been investigated. 25 The recycled plastics and their blends with a virgin polyethylene were characterized using 26 spectroscopic techniques and thermal analysis. The effects of the recycled plastics on the optical 27 and mechanical properties of the blends, which are key properties in the selection of materials 28 for tube shelters, were measured using UV-Vis spectroscopy and tensile testing. Thermal 29 stability and degradation during an accelerated aging test were also investigated. The use of 30 recycled plastics did not alter the stability of the blends, but there were decreases in elongation 31 at break and UV and blue light transmission, with small decreases in red light transmission and 32 without significant changes in the red-far red ratio. Blends with less than 50 wt% of recycled 33 plastics show only small decreases in the elongation and provide an adequate light transmission 34 for seedlings. Therefore, the results indicate that significant amounts of recycled agricultural 35 plastics can be used in the manufacture of tube shelters, with clear environmental advantages.