Low-Cost Tiles from Recycled

Plastic and Paper

A Research Presented to

The Faculty of Basic Education Department

MANUEL V. GALLEGO FOUNDATION COLLEGES

Cabanatuan City

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Subject

ENGLISH IV

By

GROUP 3, IV-NARRA

March 2015
 CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Background/Setting

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, our environment is suffering from all sorts of

pollution, global warming, and disasters. One of its causes is
too much carbon dioxide, plastics and papers that take years
before it decomposed. To relieve this suffering, a lot of
studies were already conducted. Some find alternative solutions
to prevent the pollutions especially the water and land
pollution which have big effect on our environment. Our research
can prevent plastics and papers that can help our environment to
be clean and healthy again.

Trash cans, paper plates, chairs, tissues, boxes, paper

bags, and tables are some of the products that are made from
plastics and papers which can also help our environment to
relieve its suffering from pollutions, global warming, and
disasters. Aside from helping our environment, these products
can also fulfill man’s satisfaction.

Tiles from recycled plastic and paper are tough, long-

lasting and relatively easy to shape and produce. And another
advantage of it is, we can create different color of tiles. It
may also be a light weight tile, and due to its lightness and
flexibility of materials, it can be handled by a single person.

This aims to create a Low-Cost Tiles which are inexpensive

and environment-friendly. This research will be conducted to
help relieve the environment’s suffering and to protect our
natural resources. It can also help our daily living and
knowledge about recycling waste.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. How may low-cost tiles be described in terms of:

1.1 color;
1.2 smell;
1.3 texture;
1.4 durability; and
1.5 cost?

2. How may the composition of the low-cost tiles be

described in terms of:
2.1 amount of plastic; and
2.2 amount of paper?

3. How may the tiles made of recycled plastic and paper be

compared with the commercial tiles in terms of:
3.1 color;
3.2 smell;
3.3 texture;
3.4 durability; and
3.5 cost?

4. Is the low-cost tiles made from recycled plastic and

paper a good alternative for commercial tiles?

REASEARCH OBJECTIVE

This study will be guided by the following objectives:

1. Describe low-cost tiles in terms of color, smell,

texture, durability and cost.
2. Describe the recommendable composition of the low-cost
tiles in terms of amount of plastic and amount of paper.
3. Compare the low-cost tiles from the commercial tiles in
terms of color, smell, texture, durability and cost.
4. Prove that the low-cost tiles made from recycled plastic
and paper is a good alternative for commercial tiles.

HYPOTHESIS

Hₒ Low-cost tiles have no difference from commercial tiles.

H₁ Low-cost tiles have difference from commercial tiles.

ASSUMPTIONS

The researchers are guided by the assumptions that:

1. By means of using recycled plastic and paper, it is

possible to create a tile from it.
2. The tile that we will make will be in demand to the
consumer because of its price and it is environmental
friendly.
3. The tile that we will make will be having a good quality
that can last for a long time.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This research is conceptualized based on the collection of

Air-Molded Recycled Paper Tiles which is one of the ordinary
design ideas of Dornob. (http://dornob.com/air-molded-recycled-
paper-tiles-redefine-wallpaper/) This research involved the
process of mixing, cooking, and prepping of ingredients that
includes non-petroleum and eco-friendly resins like paper. With
the help of the information posted in the website of
www.google.com, the study was conducted successfully.

In this research, the production of low-cost tiles which

are in the form of heterogeneous mixture will involve the
process of using recycled leftover pattern paper from a local
garment factory; the studio creates slurry which is pressed into
air release dies. The process is similar to that used to create
ceramic tiles. Forming the paper tiles this way makes them
exceptionally strong and durable but keeps the best attributes
of paper: it can be printed and painted on easily.

The finished product makes entire walls into canvasses,

with the jauntily printed paper tiles intermixing with
traditional ceramic tiles made from the same molds. The paper
tiles have natural sound dampening qualities, making them useful
as well as uniquely lovely.
 Research Paradigm

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Recycled Paper 1. Cutting of plastic and paper

Recycled Plastic
Gas/Charcoal Stove
Big used can of oil
2. Mixing of plastic and paper
3. Melting/Heating of plastic
and paper Low-Cost Tiles
4. Putting the tiles into shape
5. Drying of the tiles

Wood stick

The input includes recycled paper, recycled plastic,

gas/charcoal stove and big used can of oil and wood stick. Its
process is, cutting, mixing, melting/heating, putting the tiles
into shape and drying of the tiles. The output will be the Low-
Cost Tiles.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

This experimental research entitled “Low-Cost Tiles from

Recycled Plastic and Paper” will be conducted at Manuel V.
Gallego Foundation Colleges Inc. during the school year 2014-
2015 by the Group III of IV-Narra.

This research shall involve the processes of cutting,

mixing and melting to produce tiles from recycled plastic and
paper. Data shall be gathered by observation and comparison of
the products.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The beneficiaries of our study are the following:

o Environment. It will help lessen the plastic and paper

that are obstruction to our environment and may help
lessen carbon that plastic and paper produced. It can
also prevent floods by means of reducing plastics
papers.
o Community. It can help lessen the garbage on the
drainage which can result to the water in the drainage
to flow continuously.
o Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). It can help them promote their advocacy about
the environment like recycling, separation of waste,
garbage-free cities etc.
o School. It can help them lessen expenses and improve
their facility.
o Researchers. The study might help us in the incoming
years by means of having knowledge about the research
and we can apply what we learn from this study.
o Science Teachers. It can help them to have a sample
product that they can be taught to their students. It
also serves as a source of new knowledge for them as a
teacher.
o Students. It can shape/motivate their creativity to
create another product that is made up of recycled
materials.
o School Administration. Their expenses in the
facilities might be lessened.
o Parents. It can give them an idea for having a
business like this that doesn’t require a lot of
money. From this, it can help them provide their basic
needs.
o Government. Just like the other branches of
government, they can promote their advocacy which can
help them solve the problem in the community.
o Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It can be
added to their proven and successful researches that
can also help them promote the products to other
countries.
o Department of Education (DepEd). They can also help
the DOST and DENR to promote advocacies which can
lessen plastics and papers.
o Construction Business/Establishment. It can help them
produce alternative products like this in making
floorings and walls. It can also improve their sales
because of its low-cost but high-quality tiles.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Advocacy – the act of arguing or pleading in favor of

something, such as a cause, idea or policy. In this study,
advocacy is used in promoting the environment.
 Color- the appearance of objects or light sources describe
in terms of individual’s perception of them, involving hue,
lightness and saturation for light sources. In this study,
color is used to describe the Low-Cost Tiles
 Commercial- involved in work that is intended for the mass
market. In this study, commercial is used to compare with
the tiles that are made up of recycled plastic and paper.
 Composition- the combining of distinct parts or elements to
form a whole. In this study, composition is used in the
statement of the problem as modifier.
 Cost- an amount paid or required in payment for a purchase;
a price. In this study, cost is used to describe the Low-
Cost Tiles.
 Decompose- to separate into components or basic elements.
In this study, decompose is used to describe the process
that plastic and paper will undergo.
 Durability- able to perform or compete over a long period.
In this study, durability is used to describe the Low-Cost
Tiles.
 Heterogeneous- made up of parts that are different. In this
study, heterogeneous is used to describe what kind of
mixture the Low-Cost Tiles are.
 Low-Cost Tiles- Inexpensive flat pieces or tiles. In this
study, Low-Cost Tiles are the output.
 Recycled Paper- another product from paper waste. In this
study, recycled paper is an ingredient.
 Recycled Plastic- another product from plastic waste. In
this study, recycled plastic is an ingredient.
 Smell- to sense the presence of by or as if olfactory
nerves; detect or discover. In this study, smell is used to
describe the Low-Cost Tiles.
 Texture- the appearance and feel of a surface. In this
study, texture is used to describe the Low-Cost Tiles.
 CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literatures and Studies

Foreign Literature

Over the years, plastics have brought economic,

environmental and social advantages. However, their popularity
has also meant a rise in plastic waste, which brings its own
economic, environmental and social issues. Of particular concern
is the „plastic soup‟ that exists in the world’s oceans and
seas, containing everything from large abandoned fishing nets to
plastic bottles, to miniscule particles of plastic. The redesign
of plastic products, both at the scale of the individual polymer
and in terms of the product’s structure, could help alleviate
some of the problems associated with plastic waste. With
thoughtful development, redesign could have an impact at all
levels of the hierarchy established by the European Waste
Framework Directive: prevention, re-use, recycle, recovery and
disposal. The redesign of plastics and bio plastics has the
potential to reduce the use of fossil fuels, decrease CO2
emissions and decrease plastic waste. More agreement is needed
on the use of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to assess the
environmental impact of bio plastics and redesigned plastics and
LCAs need to focus more on end-of-life analysis. Clearer
definitions and better labeling on the new breeds of plastics
are required as well as improved public communication.
Assessments of the impacts on waste management infrastructure
should be performed at a local and national level. Research is
needed to assess the critical mass needed to make bio plastics
affordable and to identify the most appropriate plastics to
substitute.

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/
pdf/FB1.pdf Date Accessed: September 22, 2014)

Recycling Plastic Waste

Waste plastic is an environmental hazard in many developing

countries, particularly Ghana and Nigeria where drinking water
is sold in plastic sachets. Discarded waste blocks drains
causing flash flooding that increases the risk of malaria and is
a hazard to domestic animals. The aim of the project is to
develop low-cost equipment that can convert the waste into
marketable products as a basis for establishing self-sustaining
enterprises. Initial projects at IC in 2007 and 2008
investigated simple extrusion and hot molding prototypes. Hot
molding seemed to show the most promise practically and was
further developed in 2009. Good quality tiles 450 x 450 x 5mm
were produced in an 8-tonne press and these were formed into
other products by hot bending and heat welding. In particular
the basics of a gutter and downpipe assembly were produced for a
rain-water collection system. In these initial projects the
moulds were heated in an electric oven and projects at CUL in
2010 and 2011 adapted the process to a more appropriate oven
fuelled by wood and charcoal. At the same time two further
projects at IC have investigated an alternative recycling
process of calendaring in which the waste is passed between
heated rollers to produce plastic sheet.30 students have been
involved in the project to date. Two appropriate technologies
for recycling plastic waste in developing countries have been
developed and proven to work. Further work is needed to develop
these into production processes and to develop marketable
products. The project is being progressed with the Fantsuam
Foundation (FF), a partner in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Comic
Relief is funding a study with FF in two areas of Kaduna State
to evaluate the feasibility of setting up recycling enterprises
and to produce a business plan for a pilot SME. This study is
about to start. Although plastic is an environmental hazard it
is also a valuable resource in countries that have very limited
resources for establishing small businesses. Estimates based on
feedback from DT’s partner in Nigeria suggest that a small
enterprise employing 10 persons collecting 100kg of waste per
day and processing it into 400 floor tiles would break even in 3
to 4 months. There may be a viable market for other products
made from the tiles and sheet produced from the waste. This
indicates good potential and if this is confirmed by the
feasibility study the next step will be to set up a
demonstration unit.
 Local Literature

There is a wide range of services and facilities to recycle

domestic waste. As well as reducing the volume of waste going
to landfill sites, recycling and composting your domestic waste
helps to minimize waste collection charges.

Many of the items used in the home can be recycled. The

benefits of recycling include a cleaner environment, the safe
disposal of hazardous materials, greater awareness of excess
packaging and a careful approach to the use and re-use of
materials.

There are several ways of arranging to recycle waste. You

can take it to a recycling facility or use a kerbside collection
(if available). For organic waste, you can compost it yourself
if there isn't an organic kerbside collection service or a
facility that accepts organic waste in your area.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/waste_managemen
t_and_recycling/domestic_recycling_services.html Date Accessed:
January 25, 2012

Foreign Studies

In the study, “Utilization of E-Waste and Plastic Bottle

Waste in Concrete”, an attempt in recycling plastic was also
tried.

This E-waste and plastic waste is the major problem in

today scenario as these are non-biodegradable. Attempts were
made in past to use them in concrete by grinding them. But it
failed to give good strength because grinded particle has
flattened shape. Grinded plastic and e waste mixed with concrete
is a good way to dispose them with cheap concrete production’s-
waste from electrical and electronic equipment, that may be old
or might have reached end of life and plastic waste from plastic
mineral and cold drink bottles were collected and grinded to
size of 2 mm using pulverizing machine. The grinded pieces were
rubbed against each other with friction roller machine designed
and fabricated by the authors. It is done to develop roughness
and make grinded pieces shape irregular so that they can bond
well with cement when mixed with it. A mix design was done for
M20 grade of concrete by IS method. Ordinary Portland cement of
43 grade was selected. Grinded E-waste and plastic waste were
replaced by 0%, 2%, and 4% of the fine aggregates. Compressive
strength and flexural strength were tested and compared with
control concrete. Experiments done shows increase in compressive
strength by 5% and reduce cost of concrete production by 7% at
optimum percentage of grinded waste. Grinded waste greater than
4.75mm in certain proportion act as a good filler material in
concrete and on-going experiments are done to apply gap
gradation by grinding the waste into specific sizes. This will
ensure better packing density and hence good strength. Moreover
decorative tiles were made with the grinded waste and white
cement which give appealing look to the wall and are cheaper
than the vitrified tiles. This study intended to find the
effective ways to reutilize the waste plastic waste particles as
replacement of aggregate. The strength reduced approx. 12% at 28
day when plastic flakes of 10mm obtained from crushed bottles
were used. As the surface area of the plastic was less thus the
compressive strength reduces considerably.4)Study shows that for
certain use the flaks can be used as a filler material where
more compressive strength is not required for example making of
paver blocks.5)It can be concluded that 4% of e-waste aggregate
can be incorporated as fine aggregate replacement without any
long term detrimental effects and with acceptable strength
development properties.6)Making of tiles with white cement and
crushed-waste were 20% cheaper than the vitrified tiles of same
dimension. Specimens are being casted to check the flexure
strength and tensile strength by mixing the waste in various
proportions.2) Emphasis has been given to grind the waste into
fine powder and mix into such proportion soas to achieve maximum
packing density which may result to increase in
compressivestrength.3)More verity of the tiles will be made
which will increase its popularity in the common mass.

http://www.academia.edu/4625060/UTILIZATION_OF_E-
WASTE_AND_PLASTIC_BOTTLE_WASTE_IN_CONCRETE Date Accessed:
September 22, 2014
Local Studies

The province of Laguna is now studying the new "Plastic-to-

Oil Recycling Machine," a product of Japanese technology which
has been used in some European countries, the United States and
Canada since 2006. Capitol officials and members of the local
business sector gathered the other day for the presentation of
the technical concept of the recycling machine which involves
"pyrolysis," the gradual melting of waste plastic into oil. The
developer of this technology, Kiyoshi Nakajima, was welcomed by
Laguna Capitol officials led by Governor ER Ejercito's chief-of-
staff, Carlos Dolende. Accompanied by his director for sales,
Makoto Takizawa, and his Filipino business partner, Dante L.
Diamante, Nakajima presented the waste management solution to
officials led by Prof. Gilbert Lozada, Head of the Environment
and Natural Resources; Virginia Guanzon, chief of the provincial
Peace and Order; and Albert Abarquez, Head of the Provincial
Sports and Games Development Office. Based on the tests
conducted by the Japanese Environment Ministry, the process is
safe and non-toxic, allowing for the exportation of this
machinery to different parts of the world. In solving the
problem on the huge volume of plastic wastes, Nakajima's machine
uses hydrocarbon filter in removing the hazardous gases by
decomposing it to water and carbon dioxide.

https://ph.news.yahoo.com/laguna-studies-plastic-waste-solution-
000500733.html

Justification of the Study

The foreign literature, foreign studies, local literature

and local studies had help to formulate the conceptual framework
that will be used in this research. This present research is not
duplication or a repetition rather to be a validation if the
recycled plastic and paper found here in the Philippines can
also be used as a Low-Cost Tiles. It deals with the effectivity
of the Low-Cost Tiles from Recycled Plastic and Paper. This
research will evaluate the study in able to clarify its
validity.
 CHAPTER 3

Methodology and Procedure

This chapter includes the research design and procedure

that will be followed in the study. This involves the techniques
for gathering data which serves as a guide of the researchers in
getting more reliable results from the experiment being
conducted. It also gives the procedure the researcher undergo to
produce low-cost tiles from recycled plastics and papers and how
to perform the comparison of two different tiles.

Research Design

This experimental study will use the Two-Group design which is

done on two groups of subjects and the results are then
compared. (http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/two-group-
experimental-designs-definition-examples.html#lesson)This is
where two comparable groups will be employed as control and
experimental groups. This design aims to determine the
difference between the commercial tiles and low-cost tiles from
recycled plastics and papers.

T₁ T₂

Commercial Tiles Low-Cost Tiles from

Recycled Plastic and Paper

Research Instrument

This research will use observation in data gathering. The

research instrument shall be an observation sheet. Through a
series of observation, the data about the effectiveness of low-
cost tiles from recycled plastics and papers shall be collected.
OBSERVATION SHEET

Low-Cost Tiles from

Recycled Plastic and
Commercial Tiles Paper

Color

a. More 
dominant

b. Less 
dominant
Smell

a. Rancid 

b. Fair

c. No smell 

Texture

a. Smooth 

b. Rough 

Durability

a. More 
durable
b. Less 
durable
Cost

a. Cheaper 

b. Expensive 

Procedure

1. Collect 10 kgs of plastic and 2 kgs of paper.

2. Cut the plastic into 5x5 inch and paper in 1 inch.
3. Put the cut plastic and paper in a pale separately.
4. Melt the plastic using big used can of oil. Then, mix
the paper.
5. Put the tiles into 12x12 squares using molders.
6. Expose the tiles to direct sunlight for it to be dried
well.
 CHAPTER 4

Results and Findings

This chapter includes the presentation, analysis, and

interpretation of data. The qualitative data gathered are
presented in tables and figures.

Low-Cost Tiles from

Recycled Plastic and
Properties Commercial Tiles Paper

Color

c. More 
dominant

d. Less 
dominant
Smell

d. Rancid 

e. Fair

f. No smell 

Texture

c. Smooth 

d. Rough 

Durability

c. More 
durable
d. Less 
durable
Cost

c. Cheaper 

d. Expensive 
 Table no. 1

Comparison between Commercial Tiles and Low-Cost Tiles

The table above shows that the Low-Cost Tiles are

different from Commercial Tiles in terms of color, smell,
texture, durability and cost. This also shows that the Low-Cost
tiles are more dominant, more durable, cheaper, smells rancid
and rough than the Commercial Tiles. And the Commercial Tiles
are less dominant, less durable, and expensive, have no smell
and have a smooth texture.

Mixture Plastic Paper Water

a. Water, plastic and 5 kgs 1 kilo 1 liter

paper

b. Less water, plastic 3 kgs ½ kilo ½ liter

and paper

c. Less plastic, paper 3 kgs ¼ kilo ¼ liter

and no water

Table no. 2

Ratio of Mixtures of Low-Cost Tiles

The table above shows that in Mixture A, there is a

ratio of 5:1:1 in terms of plastic, paper and water. In Mixture
B, there is a ratio of 3:1/2:1/2. And in Mixture C, there is a
ratio of 3:1/4:1/4. This shows that paper and water have the
same amount when mixed to plastic to produce a Low-Cost Tiles.
 Chapter 5

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendation

This chapter presents the summary, conclusions and

recommendations formulated based on the conducted experiment.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The information gathered from the experiment and

observation regarding the comparison of Low-Cost Tile and
Commercial Tile are summarized as follows:

1. Low-Cost Tile can be described in terms of color, smell,

texture, durability and cost. Its color is more dominant
than the Commercial Tile; its smell is rancid; its texture
is rough; it is more durable than the Commercial Tile; and
it is also cheaper.
2. The composition of the Low-Cost Tiles can be described in
terms of amount of plastic and paper. The lesser the
plastic and paper the smaller the tiles will be and the
fewer the plastic and paper, the bigger the tiles will be.
3. The tiles made of recycled plastic and paper can be
compared with the commercial tiles in terms of color,
smell, texture, durability and cost.
4. The Low-Cost Tile made from recycled plastic and paper is a
good alternative for commercial tiles.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The color of Low-Cost Tile is more dominant because of

using a fire in melting it; its smell is rancid because of
fire; its texture is rough because of different texture of
plastics used; it is more durable because when we tried to
stepped at its surface it doesn’t crack easily unlike the
commercial tiles; and its cheaper because we just used
recycled plastic and paper.
2. The amount of plastic and paper really affect the result of
the tile because the lesser the plastic the lesser tiles
will be made as well as the paper.
 3. The Low-Cost Tile and Commercial Tile really have a big
different in terms of color, smell, texture, durability and
cost.
4. The Low-Cost Tile made from recycled plastic and paper is a
good alternative because some of its properties are also
the same as the Commercial Tiles.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. You should use polymers plastic like the bottle of mogu-mogu

for you to have a good result.
2. There must be a precised amount of plastic and paper to be
used.
3. There must be an observation for you to know its comparison.
4. Melting machine should be used for the plastic to be easily
melted.
5. Further experimentations are needed to have a better product.