Abstract
This study evaluates the efficacy of using textile waste blended with paper waste to form biodegradable seedling pots. A bio-composite blend of cotton (20% cotton, 40% newspaper, and 40% corrugated cardboard) and polycotton (20% polycotton, 40% newspaper, and 40% corrugated cardboard) with an optimum strength was formed into seedling pots. The appreciated seedling pots (untreated blends of cotton and polycotton) were compared with the commercial pots (cardboard seed starter pot and Jiffy pot) in terms of mechanical properties (tensile strength and compressive strength), biodegradability (soil burial test and anaerobic digestion), and seed germination. The untreated blends of cotton and polycotton pots demonstrated a comparable optimum strength, while the Jiffy pot and cardboard seed starter pot obtained the least tensile and compressive strengths, respectively. The anaerobic biodegradability assay suggests that the cotton blend pot, polycotton blend pot, and cardboard seed starter pot can degrade anaerobically because of high biogas and methane generation potential. A 100% seed germination was observed from the four seedling pots tested. Thus, the results demonstrate the efficacy of utilizing textile waste and paper waste to develop seedling pots with desirable strength and biodegradability compared to the commercial pots.
Highlights
Staggering consumerism and economic growth have generated an unsustainable amount of discarded textile and paper waste in municipal solid waste (MSW) that ends up in landfills
The identical nature of binder matrix and pulp fibres which is made of cellulose are fully compatible to allow efficient stress transfer and adhesion [37,38]
Thisstudy studyevaluated evaluatedthe theefficacy efficacyof ofutilizing utilizingtextile textilewaste waste(cotton. This blended with paper waste to develop biodegradable blended with paper waste to develop biodegradaseedling pots
Summary
Staggering consumerism and economic growth have generated an unsustainable amount of discarded textile and paper waste in municipal solid waste (MSW) that ends up in landfills. Fast fashion trend makes clothing disposable, generating a massive amount of textile waste [1,2,3,4]. Textiles such as cotton and polycotton (60% cotton/40% polyester) are the predominant fibers that comprised most of the consumers merchandised [5,6,7]. Discarded textile and paper waste are fiber-rich resources that can be potentially used in the making of a biodegradable seedling pot. This study offers an environmentally sustainable option in diverting textile and paper waste from landfills by converting them into a biodegradable seedling pot
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