Valorization of Potential Post-Consumer Polyethylene (PE) Plastics Waste and Ethiopian Indigenous Highland Bamboo (EHB) for Wood Plastic Composite (WPC): Experimental Evaluation and Characterization

The best approaches to minimizing resource scarcity, removing valuable waste streams, and re-establishing a circular economic chain of recycled thermoplastics are cascade them into product life cycles their valorization combined with sustainable raw materials. As one part this goal, WPC was formulated from three PE plastic wastes: linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium-density (MDPE), high-density (HDPE), underutilized EHB. chemical composition EHD, structure, crystallinity, melting crystallization points, residual metal additives, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated using standard chromatographic spectroscopic methods such as HPAEC-UV/VIS, FTIR, DSC, GC/MSD, XPS. properties formulations different compositions bamboo particles (BP) dispersed phase, individual plastics, equal melt blend (EM) polymer matrix extensively measured known standard. These comprised tensile strength (TS), modulus elasticity (TM), flexural (FS), rupture (FM), unnotched impact (UIS). It also included the effect various alkaline surface treatment ranges on interface interaction. results show improved mechanical for all blending ratios surface-treated BP, which resulted better encapsulation in matrix. Despite its inherent immiscibility, formulation revealed unusual compared separate phase blends, is attributed thermally induced cross-linking. This implies that weakest cheapest LLDPE relatively cheap MDPE HDPE improves blend, particularly toughness, while simultaneously retaining some properties.