Kenyan recycles plastic waste into bricks stronger than concrete

Re:Kenyan recycles plastic waste into bricks stronger than c... by josefresco on Wednesday February 10, 2021 @03:22PM (#26094209)

I don't, I was genuinely asking. It would seem like given it's popularity that would be an issue. But, crazier things have happened when it comes to consumer safety regulations.

Anecdotally I've probably touched an open flame to synthetic rope, milk jugs and maybe a bucket or two in my life but can't say I've ever seen any of these items react in an uncontrolled or dangerous way.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Kenyan recycles plastic waste into bricks stronger than c... by mediaman on Wednesday February 10, 2021 @03:32PM (#26094350)

Sure, they're flammable.

But the amount of BTUs in, say, packaging, is negligible, because it's so lightweight.

When you combine lots of recycled packaging into dense bricks, it becomes a lot of dense BTUs, so can provide a lot of fuel to a fire.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Kenyan recycles plastic waste into bricks stronger than c... by _jal on Wednesday February 10, 2021 @04:27PM (#26095055)

Plastic fires are nasty. Aside from toxic fumes, plastic melts, So gravity will help it spread, if there's a way for it to do so.

You're not going to cause a runaway with a lighter and a pop bottle without working at it. But, say, an electrical short in a closet with hanging synthetics can take off pretty quickly.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Kenyan recycles plastic waste into bricks stronger than c... by why_Mr_Anderson on Wednesday February 10, 2021 @05:13PM (#26095515)

And of top of that, burns from plastics are HORRIBLE, think napalm, but worse.

[ Parent | on HN ]