A Vietnamese man has transformed plastic waste into a diverse array of useful applications, including park benches, which are gaining great attention in the beach city of Nha Trang, located in Khanh Hoa City, south-central Vietnam. 

The benches have recently wowed visitors to a park along Tran Phu Street in Nha Trang.

“I never expected that waste materials could be transformed into such a durable and esthetically pleasing bench,” Nguyen Thuy Quynh, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. 

“I think this product should be produced and utilized in more public spaces, educational institutions, and workplaces. 

“As someone who appreciates handmade and recycled items, I find great value in using such products.”

From plastic waste to concrete

The mastermind behind these unique creations is Nguyen Van Xuan, a 63-year-old director at Resa Energy Joint Stock Company.

A workshop located in Vinh Thanh Commune, Nha Trang City serves as Xuan’s dedicated space for research, experimentation, and production. 

Leveraging his background as an electrical engineer, he utilizes his understanding of physics and his self-taught skills to create various products using waste materials. 

Whether it is a table, flowerpot, floor tile, or art statue, all of these items are crafted using the same raw materials -- plastic waste.

At this workshop, visitors can witness first-hand the astonishing tables, which appear to be made from granite but are in fact ingeniously crafted from discarded materials. 

Additionally, visitors can observe chairs meticulously fashioned from recycled plastic and concrete, capable of supporting a weight of approximately 300 kilograms, all while maintaining their eco-friendly nature.

According to Xuan, these products are created using a technique known as 'binding plastic into concrete,' resulting in the same level of durability and esthetic appeal as natural materials. 

However, they come at a price that is only two-thirds of the cost of comparable items made out of traditional materials.

More importantly, their mass production can play a significant role in reducing the exploitation of natural resources.

“This approach is environmentally friendly as it involves the cold treatment of plastic waste,” Xuan told Tuoi Tre. 

“By grinding the plastic into small particles and incorporating an additive, the plastic particles can securely adhere to the cement. 

“This plastic waste concrete can be utilized for a wide range of applications, including interior and exterior goods, construction materials, low-load traffic roads, and even field canals.”

Aside from producing concrete products from plastic waste, Xuan also engages in the production of diesel fuel through the pyrolysis process of waste materials. 

This diesel fuel has undergone thorough testing and has been successfully utilized in low-speed engines and other types of machinery.

Aspiration for promoting recycled products

Recycled products like Xuan’s encounter challenges in terms of market acceptance due to people’s unfamiliarity with them and a lack of environmental awareness, according to the 63-year-old man. 

Additionally, the absence of established standards for recycled products makes it challenging to integrate them into project supply chains. 

Furthermore, there is a lack of specific incentive policies from the national government to promote the use of recycled products.

“My aspiration is for people to shift their consumption habits toward utilizing recycled products as a means of contributing to environmental protection,” Xuan said. 

“To achieve this objective, my primary focus lies in creating products from plastic waste that serve as tools for raising awareness and promoting the cause, with business and profit considerations following suit. 

“Encouragingly, a number of foreign companies have already expressed interest and placed orders for these products.”

Xuan’s concern for environmental issues has driven him to actively engage in discussions with young people in Nha Trang City to raise awareness about recycling plastic waste. 

During those talks, he brings along his machinery system for young people to witness first-hand the process of transforming waste into building materials.

In addition, he collaborates with resorts and hotels in Khanh Hoa Province to participate in beach cleanup activities and collect plastic waste for recycling purposes.

“In the near future, I plan to introduce a multitude of new products made out of waste, which will bring about significant applications,” Xuan said. 

“I expect to help enhance the income of scrap dealers by purchasing the waste they collect and utilizing it as raw materials. 

“At the same time, I intend to expand this production model by establishing branches or forming cooperatives.”

Xuan will furnish the necessary equipment, technology, and procedure guidelines, while the employees will be responsible for carrying out the production process in accordance with specific standards. 

Once production is complete, Xuan will receive the finished products, oversee their packaging for consumption, and handle the sales process.

In addition to the recycled benches in use at the park on Tran Phu Street, Xuan’s Resa Energy Joint Stock Company cooperated with the Khanh Hoa chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to construct an 11-meter-long and two-meter-wide concrete road made from recycled plastic waste. 

This road serves as a connection between the sidewalk of Tran Phu Street and the nearby sea. 

Additionally, this partnership is expected to undertake numerous other projects, according to Tran Anh Tuan, secretary of the Khanh Hoa chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

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