Page 28 - Plastics News July 2018

FeAtures

Maharashtra government makes it compulsory to use plastic waste

to lay roads

With a focus on recycling Plastic waste across the state the GR says the roads will be inspected every three
months, and a report will be submitted to the state government once a year.

otholed roads? Broken boulevards? Peeled streets? are made from virgin polymers and sometimes crumb
PThose are problems that the average citizen – you rubber (ground tires). They are highly versatile: Illinois
and me – have to worry about but no more as Maharashtra uses them to build high-traffic truck roads, Washington
government has made it compulsory to use plastic waste State uses them for noise reduction and in rural Ontario
to lay roads. Incidentally this was on paper for quite a they are used to prevent roads from cracking after a harsh
winter. Polymerized asphalts also tend not to
buckle in extreme heat the way conventional
roads do – plastic roads will not melt unless the
temperature goes beyond 66C (150F), compared
to 50.2C (122.5F) for ordinary roads – and are
frequently used on roads in the Middle East.
The plastic waste items that can be used for
road construction are various items like plastic
carrybags, plastic cups, plastic packaging for
potato chips, biscuits, chocolates, etc.
The Process

The entire process is very simple. The plastic
waste material is first shredded to a particular
size using a shredding machine. The aggregate
mix is heated at 165°c and transferred to the
mixing chamber, and the bitumen is heated to
sometime now. The state government on earlier last month 160°c to result in good binding. It is important to monitor
June 22, Thursday made it compulsory to use plastic waste the temperature during heating.
for construction of bituminous or asphalt roads. The shredded plastic waste is then added to the aggregate.
In a state government resolution (GR) issued by the PWD, It gets coated uniformly over the aggregate within 30 to
in view of the ban, large quantities of plastic will be 60 seconds, giving an oily look. The plastic waste coated
available. “Using plastic in hot mix tar will increase the aggregate is mixed with hot bitumen and the resulting mix
quality of roads. All such roads will have to use plastic, is used for road construction. The road laying temperature
including the ones constructed and repaired by the is between 110°c to 120°c. The roller used has a capacity
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC),” said Manoj of 8 tons.
Saunik, principal secretary of PWD. This process has generated an additional job for rag
Adding flexible materials to strengthen tar roads is not a pickers. Plastic waste helps increase the strength of the
new idea. Commercially made polymer-modified asphalts road, reducing road fatigue. These roads have better
first became popular in the 1970s in Europe. Now, North resistance towards rain water and cold weather. Since
America claims 35% of the global market. Modified asphalts a large amount of plastic waste is required for a small

Plastics News July 2018 28