Find your way on plastic road

It’s a road less travelled. Metalled roads, cobbled streets and dirt paths are now passé with a road in Kerala being constructed now with plastic waste.

A research centre in Kerala is paving a small stretch of road with plastic waste as part of its experiment to put to good use the huge amount of plastic garbage generated in the state.

Though plastic waste has been used in road construction in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and some other states, the method may not suit Kerala because of different soil and climate conditions. Hence the experiment to develop a method suitable to the condition in the state is necessary, according to researchers working on the project.

The Kozhikode centre of the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) is paving a 400-metre stretch of road in Vatakara municipal town, 40 km from here, with plastic waste as part of its demonstration project.

The use of plastic saves bitumen up to 10 percent in road construction. Around a tonne of shredded plastic is needed to pave one km road with a width of 3.5 metres.

The method is to mix plastic with heated granite pieces. The molten plastic covers the granite pieces enhancing its binding property.

The tarring of roads using plastic wastes had many advantages. From the environmental point of view, sizable quantity of waste plastic, otherwise a hazard, will be put to good use. The longevity of road too is expected to increase.

To relay a kilometre-long stretch, 3.75 metre wide, one tonne of plastic waste is needed. Plastic carry bags, bottles and cups would form the base. Seven per cent of tar can be saved thus. The project would be extended to other centres in the State if successful.