Plastic waste in road construction offers an innovative, scientific, and environment-friendly solution for handling the plastic present in everyday garbage — reusing it to build stronger, longer-lasting roads instead of sending it to landfills.
What Is Plastic?
Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solid that can be molded into shape. Manufacturers usually derive it from petrochemicals, though some varieties include partially natural materials too.
Plastic Waste in India: The Current Scenario
India generates an estimated 1.88 lakh tons of garbage every day, and plastic makes up around 8% of that total. Informal channels recycle or reuse about 60% of this plastic waste, but the remaining 40% ends up in landfills, dumps, or gets burned.
We’ve identified an exclusive, patented technology company that reuses this plastic waste as an additive in road construction. The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the Centre for Transportation Engineering (CTE) have certified and patented the technology, and the company continues rigorous research into using plastic waste for road construction materials. Through this research, the team discovered that plastic works effectively alongside bitumen to build roads.
The Process Behind Plastic Waste in Road Construction
The company has built an end-to-end process for this. First, they collect all kinds of plastic waste from garbage, then sort, clean, and shred it into flakes using exclusively patented, in-house manufactured machinery. Next, they mix this material with bitumen in a ratio of 8:100 by total weight inside a hot mix plant. Specially designed machinery then sprays this blend onto aggregate at 160°C. As a result, the plastic coats the aggregate, and a layer of bitumen forms over it, strengthening the bond between the two materials. For best results, workers lay this mix at a minimum of 100°C while asphalting the road.
How the Technology Improves Road Performance
This technology doubles a road’s durability, efficiency, and performance compared to plastic-free roads, all while adding only a marginal cost to construction.
Benefits of Using Plastic Waste in Road Construction
- It offers a permanent solution to the plastic menace, keeping garbage plastic-free and far easier to process and manage — directly addressing the garbage problem many cities and towns face today.
- It helps build cleaner, greener, and healthier cities and towns with higher-quality roads.
- Roads built using this method last up to twice as long as conventional roads, while also costing less than normal or cement roads.
- As the only recyclers in the market offering up to ₹6 per kg for non-recyclable plastic carry bags and packing materials, this creates an additional income of ₹1,500–2,000 per month for sanitary workers, opening up more jobs for more people.
- Most importantly, this technology helps protect our environment and our planet.
Who Benefits From This Initiative
This work relies on collaboration with communities and stakeholders across the board — institutions, government organizations, builders, residential societies, Rotary and Lions Clubs, resident welfare associations, social welfare organizations, NGOs, and CSR programs all play a role in making this initiative successful.
