Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study
The depletion of the ozone layer, which causes global
warming, has always been one of the worsening environmental
issues. Plastics, considering different chemical elements on
different types of it, are mostly the reasons behind the
catastrophe. Hence, the challenge of recycling waste materials is
regarded as very important in the general attempt for sustainable
development nowadays.
Polystyrene foams are considered to be one of the most
hazardous waste materials. It is hardly biodegradable, as it is
resistant to photolysis, the breaking down of materials due to
photons from a light source. Polystyrene is a hard, stiff, brilliantly
transparent

synthetic resin

produced

by

the polymerization of styrene (Encylopaedia Britannica, 2016).

>>DELETE
In 2012, the annual global styrene capacity was estimated
at over 32.7 million tonnes. Asia holds around half of the world
styrene capacity. The global styrene capacity utilization rates are

poised to grow from approximately 85% in 2012 to over 90% by

2017. >>% spell-out (Global Styrene Production Exceeded 26.4
Million Tonnes in 2012, Merchant Research and Consulting Ltd).
This is an alarming number because for every production means
another waste material will come out with it. >>CITE THE
SOURCE PROPERLY
Styrofoam

is

manufactured

by

using

HFCs,

or

hydrofluorocarbons, which have negative impacts on the ozone

layer and global warming. HFCs are less detrimental to the ozone
than

CFCs

>>SPELL-OUT,

which

they

replaced

in

the

manufacturing of Styrofoam, but it is thought that the impact of

HFCs on global warming is much more serious (How Styrofoam is
Bad for the Environment, Love To Know). >>SOURCE? YEAR? IF
NOT YEAR, PUT ND
The United Nations Environment Program estimated in 2006
that every square mile of ocean hosts 46,000 pieces of floating
plastic. A 1986 EPA report on solid waste named the polystyrene
manufacturing process as the fifth largest creator of hazardous
waste in the United States. In the product manufacturing process
as well as the use and disposal of the products, energy

consumption, greenhouse gas effect, and total environmental

effect, polystyrenes environmental impacts were second highest,
behind aluminium, according to the California Integrated Waste
Management Board (The Dangers of Polystyrene, Business
Barbados 2010).
Philippines is not exempted for this catastrophe. Many
disasters were experienced nationwide without being foreseen
because the events were not expected to have that impact. This
is because of the global warming. Impacts of calamities are not
the same like the previous years, not even decades ago.
Much like how climate change is being dealt with by
countries, the fight against ozone depletion reached its peak with
the ratification of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer by 197 party countries including the
Philippines (Ranada, 2014).
Locally,

polystyrene

wastes

can

be

found

almost

everywhere. It is often the cause of clogging in the drainages that

end up causing floods in some areas. Also, citizens tend to burn
plastics to lessen the garbage dumping.

Another thing, the construction of economic-wise structures

has become a great challenge for engineers these days. Different
innovations are spurting out rapidly. Making the challenge more
challenging.
With these, innovations are now tangled with recycling.
Construction industry is trying to widen its scope of materials to
be used. It tries to cater the using of recyclable materials
integrated to the existing composite materials.
Thus, the need to collaborate construction and recycling
arises. These two fields can help one another towards a common
goal brighter and sustainable future.
Statement of the Problem
The purpose of the study is to find out if Polystyrene foam
wastes and red soils will make a good composition for brick road
pavements construction.
Particularly, this study seeks to answer the following
queries:
1 What is the most effective ratio to get the ideal compressive
strength of polystyrene-red-soil bricks?
1 At 60 percent (Polystyrene);
1.2

At 65 percent (Polystyrene);

At 75 percent (Polystyrene);
4At lower or higher percent (Polystyrene)? >>THE FIRST
QUESTION should be the DATA for

CONTROL/EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
2 What is the maximum attainable compressive strength of
polystyrene-red-soil bricks?
2.2
At 60 percent (Polystyrene);
2.3
At 65 percent (Polystyrene);
2.4
At 75 percent (Polystyrene);
2.5
At lower or higher percent (Polystyrene)?
>>EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
3 Is there a significant difference in the remaining
compressive strength in the experimental set-ups when
the mixture of Polystyrene foam wastes and Res Soild
were applied at different percentages?
4 What is the ideal dimension of the polystyrene-red-soil
brick? >>HOW?

>>CAN YOU REFER as to how HINAMPAS et al stated their

SOTP?
Null Hypotheses
Ho1: There is a significant difference in the compressive
strength in the experimental set-ups when the mixture ratio of
Polystyrene foam wastes and Red Soils are applied at the
different percentages.

Ho2: Ultimate compressive strength of the polystyrene-redsoil brick is greater than the required compressive strength for
road pavements.
Ho3: There is a significant difference on the effectivity of the
polystyrene-red-soil brick at different given dimensions.
>>>CHECK

FIRST

YOUR

QUESTIONS

before

FINALIZING these
Review of Related Literature and Studies
This section shows some parallel related literature and
studies that run almost the same to this research in terms of
areas of concerns and nature of study.
Mohsen (2014), the main objective of this thesis was to
develop a new recycling technology in order to produce a cost
effective product entirely out of waste. Polystyrene waste is
reinforced with fibers whether natural or synthetic to improve its
mechanical properties and hence could be used for different
useful applications. The new products will reduce the detrimental
problem of solid waste to the environment as well as save
energy, natural resources and cost. Finally, an innovative,
environment friendly, cheap and effective yet simple technology

is developed to determine the suitability of polystyrene foam

waste fiber reinforced composites techniques. >>>PLS EDIT.
Anjorin et al (2009), this work focuses on the development
of local building materials in Benin for their efficient use in
buildings. It aims to make mud bricks lightened with good
mechanical, thermal and sound properties and enhance the
waste polystyrene. This article is the result of experimental work
on a broad field of applied sciences: building mechanics. The
study is focused on BTS (blocks of stabilized earth) chosen as
reference

materials

to

which

we

linked

polystyrene.

The

percentage of polystyrene varies from 0% to 100% starting from

a constant volume of each reference material. The results showed
that the increase in polystyrene percentage lowers mechanical
properties. These results also showed that the gradual addition of
polystyrene to the laterite-cement mixture has a significant
influence on the density and mechanical resistances of the final
composite material. >>>PLS EDIT.
Cuizon et al (2014), the objective of this thesis was to
provide detailed technical and economic information on the
production of compressed stabilized earth block with a view to
making available existing experiences in this field to those who

produce or plan to manufacture blocks so as to improve

production techniques and quality of output. This included
information on suitable soil types, local stabilizers, production of
compressed stabilized earth blocks, quality of the blocks, and
their economic value. >>>PLS EDIT.

NOTE: PLS CHECK the GRAMMAR and the COMPLETENESS

of the sentences in every paragraph especially in the RRL
and RRS

***WHERE is your TITLE PAGE? REFERENCE PAGE?