The Economist: Road Makers Turn to Recycled Plastic

Plastic, sourced from petrochemicals, does not break down easily and offers limited options for recycling. Developers have begun experimenting with melted plastic as an ingredient for road construction to partially replace traditional bitumen and asphalt. In the Netherlands, a 30-meter bicycle path is made of 70 percent plastic. “PlasticRoad is prefabricated in a factory as modular sections,” reports the Economist. “The sections are then transported to the site and laid end to end on a suitable foundation, such as sand. Because these sections are hollow, internal channels can be incorporated into them for drainage, along with conduits for services such as gas and electricity.” Elsewhere, plastic is being used for repairs – MacRebur, a British firm, was inspired by India where old plastic is placed into potholes and set on fire. A 300-meter section of road in Melbourne is made of Plastiphalt and being monitored. Researchers aim for plastic roads that last longer, reduce construction time and cost less. Plastic-made roads would be recyclable and could include sensors to measure temperature, stress, water or traffic flows. – YaleGlobal