Plastic waste now to be used in road construction, will save money and help to dispose the plastic.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

For every 100 Kg of tar, 3-6 Kg of plastic will be used.

Will reduce the need of bitumen by 10 %.

Minimum effect of extreme heat and no melting in summers.

Better resistance to water resulting no potholes.

These roads offer improved quality and are also cheaper.

Such roads also have higher resistance to water induced damage.

In a wider scale, all state governments will now use plastic and plastic waste products along with tar (bitumen) to construct new roads. This move will not only increase the life span of the road but also help to dispose abiotic and harmful wastes. The Centre in its recommendations has stated that using plastic waste along with tar to build roads improves the quality. It also helps reduce soil pollution caused by plastic. Thus, the state government has decided to include plastic waste along with tar while building roads.

The most of the Indian road, which become in dilapidated conditions after every monsoon rains, will get increased life with plastic used along with tar as it will make the mixture solid, so water will not seep through the roads giving long life to it. Also, it will help plastic wastes which contribute highest in the environment degradation. Plastic never gets naturally disposed and causes all kinds of pollutions like air, soil, water etc. With use of plastic in the roads constructions, it will be easy to utilize this harmful element without degrading the environment.

In the process of constructing roads with use of plastic, for every 100Kg of tar for the asphalt roads, 3-6Kg of plastic will be used in the mix. Additionally, materials such plastic carry bags, sacks, milk pouches, bin linings, cosmetic and detergent bottles, drinking water bottles, bottle caps, household articles will be used. The proposal gas got clearance from road safety tribunal, environment tribunal and all concerned authorities.

The official clarified that the government has received assurance from the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute that these roads will not only offer improved quality, but will also be cheaper. Studies reveal that plastic waste offers considerable potential for use in bituminous construction. Addition of such waste in small ratio, about 5-10 per cent by weight of bitumen, improves the stability, strength, fatigue life and other desirable properties of bituminous mix, leading to improved longevity and pavement performance.

Consequently, such roads will have higher resistance to deformation, water induced damages, increase durability, strength and ultimately dispose of plastic waste in a larger quantity to save pollution, consequently contributing to the construction of green roads.

There are huge spends on road constructions and plastic waste management every year but both have not been managed well as it should have been. With this move to construct road in above mentioned way, people’s dream to have good roads will get fulfilled and plastic, which was a big problem for authorities to dispose will also get solved.