FROM WASTE TO SHELTER: SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF USING RECYCLED PET IN SUSTAINABLE HOUSING

Zeballos-Velarde C.; García-Chirinos I.C. · ZEMCH International Conference (2025)

Resumen

Two intertwining issues that impact cities globally, especially in emerging nations, are plastic pollution and the housing shortage. With an emphasis on the case of Arequipa, Peru, this article investigates the possibilities of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a sustainable building material for social housing. It describes the amount of plastic garbage and its effects on the environment, based on both local and global data, and shows how poorly managed waste is linked to circumstances of informal living in the city's peri-urban areas. The paper examines the technical benefits of PET bricks, such as their durability, cost, and thermal performance, and places them in the context of larger discussions about the circular economy and sustainable building practices. It also takes into account strategies to integrate policies through community-based projects, incentives, and regulatory standards. PET bricks address garbage and housing at the same time, in contrast to traditional methods that do it separately. The article concludes by highlighting the social ramifications of PET-based housing solutions, namely how they may enhance vulnerable groups' comfort, health, energy efficiency, and employment prospects. The results imply that turning waste into shelter is a step toward social justice and resilient urban development in addition to being an environmental tactic. © ZEMCH 2025.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa