Environmental implications of styrofoam waste and its utilization as lightweight fill material for embankment construction

Abstract

This study investigates the adverse effects of styrofoam waste on the environment due to its non-biodegradable nature and persistence in natural ecosystems, encompassing issues such as visual pollution, habitat disruption, and potential health risks to flora and fauna. The research also delves into the feasibility of repurposing styrofoam waste as a lightweight fill material in embankment construction, aiming to improve the performance of such structures, with the primary objective of augmenting the structural performance of such constructions. The paper conducts an extensive assessment of the technical properties and engineering characteristics of a soil-styrofoam mixture. Key parameters under scrutiny encompass density, shear strength, and bearing capacity behaviors. Various proportions of styrofoam, specifically 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% by weight, were systematically incorporated into the soil mixture. Based on this study, the use of styrofoam can reduce the maximum dry density of the soil mixture, but still has the desired bearing capacity. These results indicate that the reuse of Styrofoam waste as an additional material in embankment construction has great potential to improve the performance and sustainability of embankment projects.