A new road Plastic Road in Islamabad made from previously used plastic bottles goes functional. Pakistan has always made efforts to provide an eco-friendly environment by promoting different campaigns like gigantic tree plantation drive and giving extra holiday to reduce smog pollution. Prime Minister Imran Khan has always warned on an international platform regarding global warming. Once again, the country is paving the way to reduce its plastic waste by building roads. Pakistan has built its first-ever plastic road in Islamabad by recycling wasted plastic bottles. The initiative was a joint venture of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the National Incubation Centre, and a multinational firm Coca Cola.
Opening of First Plastic Road
Pakistan’s first plastic road on Ataturk Avenue has been inaugurated by Pakistan’s interior minister as a pilot project in Islamabad. The aim is to use recycled materials across the country in a more efficient manner. The project utilized 10 tonnes of plastic bottles to construct a one-kilometer (km) stretch of road built to help reduce plastic pollution in the country. It is informed that Rs. 21 million were the total cost incurred. Currently different tests have been going on to check the strength and durability of this road. It is informed that if all the test’s results come satisfactory than this wasted plastic will be the permanent part of the mixture. CDA is giving free of cost patent for private and government sectors to use these tests results in the construction of plastic roads in other parts of the country.
It’s no secret that plastic pollution is a huge problem. The ubiquity of single-use plastics has created an environmental crisis, with vast amounts of trash entering our oceans and waterways. The government of Pakistan estimates that 87,000 tons of solid waste are generated per day, mostly from major metropolitan areas. Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, generates more than 13,500 tons of municipal waste daily. All major cities face enormous challenges in managing urban waste.
History
Waste plastics have been used in asphalt mixes for decades. But road construction using recycled plastic was patented and first introduced by Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan. He built a lab that could clean, recycle, and pulverize waste plastic. He found that they worked better than standard asphalt mixes. The government of India has encouraged the use of recycled plastic on roads. These idea of Plastic roads have also been implemented in other countries, including the United States , Netherland and Australia.
Zwolle, Netherlands, has just become the first city in the world to feature a fully paved road made from recycled plastic. The PlasticRoad, created by Dutch construction firm KWS SA and architecture studio Total NL, is a 70-meter long parking space for bicycles, scooters, and cars.
Formation of Mix
The plastic roads are not completely made of plastic but a small % of plastic microgranules are used with bitumen, asphalt and other chemicals to make a thick black layer base that is used to construct roads.
Benefits of Plastic Road
- Plastic wastages extend the life of roads.
- More durable than asphalt – less likely to crack in cold climates, cheaper to maintain.
- Less noise pollution in urban areas.
- Reduce global warming as made of wasted plastic which cause pollution.
- Easily replaceable when it eventually wears down.
- Environmentally-friendly material as it is a unique solution to reduce environmental impact
- Plastic roads are less expensive than asphalt and can be made to order with designs that match your city or country.
- They are durable, easy to upkeep, safer for pedestrians, environmentally friendly.
- Lower maintenance costs than traditional roadways
Conclusion
Too many countries are making efforts to eliminate plastic waste. Pakistan has taken a bold step of building road with old plastic bottles. This initiative is commendable because it will raise the value of plastic waste, which was disposed off in thousands of landfills across the country. Pakistan’s government has already made ambitious plans to plant thirty million trees. Every year ten million trees get cut because of timber export to China. But for now, let’s take a moment to appreciate Pakistan’s efforts towards environmental preservation.
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