Plastic waste finds eco-friendly use in road construction

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) The plastic waste, creating pollution hazards all over the country, can be turned into an ''environment- friendly'' purpose if used in the construction of roads, according to a study sponsored by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Bitumen blended with waste polymers such as polythylene (sheets), polypropylene (sheet and film) and Polystrene (thermocol) has improved properties as binder for the road construction, experiments done by Thiagaraj College of Engineering, Madurai have proved.

Use of shredded plastic waste in bitumen for laying roads has helped in preventing creation of potholes, a common problem of Indian roads.

The technology is eco-friendly too as re-use of the plastic waste in this method is better than recycling of the material, which emits fugitive emissions. Problems like disposal of waste and blockages of waste stream would be automatically taken care of once its put to use.

Under the existing method, granite mixture is used with bitumen.

The blend cannot prevent trapping of water between the layers of the two materials, resulting in development of potholes.

The process is accelerated during movement of vehicles.

However, when polymer is coated over the aggregate, the coating reduces its affinity for water due to non-wetting nature of the polymer and this reduces the penetration of water.

During the road laying process, mixing of plastic material do not create any environmental hazards, as no burning of the waste is involved, which in turn prevents green house gases emission into the atmosphere.

The mixing of plastic waste in bitumen also reduces bleeding of bitumen in summers, as waste-polymer bitumen blend shows higher softening temperature.

The use of plastic also saves bitumen by ten per cent, thus helps in the conservation of the material.

The technology for laying bitumen-plastic road is the same as prescribed by the Indian Roads Congress specifications.

The whole process is very simple. The existing technology is only slightly modified. No new machinery is needed and the available mini hot-mix plant and central mixing plant can be used. For its use in the road construction, the waste plastic gains resale value.

Besides, it also creates jobs for ragpickers and segregators.

More UNI NAZ HS VV1100