Use of plastic waste in

construction of Bituminous road

INTRODUCTION

 Plastics are user friendly but not eco-friendly as they are non-
biodegradable. The roads constructed using waste plastic, popularly known
as Plastic Roads, are found to perform better compared to those
constructed with conventional bitumen. The Indian Centre for Plastics in the
Environment (ICPE) has been promoting the use of plastic waste to
construct asphalt roads. A few trial roads have been paved successfully by
combining waste plastic with bitumen. Plastic roads mainly use plastic carry
bags, disposable cups, and bottles that are collected from garbage dumps
as an essential ingredient of the construction material. When mixed with hot
bitumen, plastics melt to form an oily coat over the aggregate and the
mixture is laid on the road surface like a normal tar road. Today in INDIA
nearly more than 12 million tons of plastics are used. There visibility has
been perceived as a serious problem and made plastic a target in the
management of solid waste.
NEED OF PLASTIC ROAD
 Use higher percentage of plastic waste.
 Reduce the need of bitumen by around 10%.
 Increase the strength and performance of the road.
 Reduce the cost to around Rs. 5000/Km. of single lane road.
 Generate jobs for rag pickers.
 Develop a technology, which is eco-friendly.
 Improvement in fatigue life of roads.
 Better resistance towards rain water and cold weather Better resistance
towards rain water and cold weather
Specifications for Waste Plastic

The following types of waste plastic can be used in the construction of

rural roads:
• Films (Carry bags, Cups) thickness up to 60micron
• Hard foams any thickness
• Soft foams any thickness
• Laminated plastics thickness up to 60micron (Aluminium coated also)
packing materials used for biscuits, chocolates, etc.
Change In Properties of Bitumen after adding
plastic

 Increase the melting point of the bitumen roads.

 Addition of plastic in bitumen will makes the road retain its flexibility
during winters resulting in its long life.
 Shredded plastic waste is used as a strong “binding agent” for tar
making the asphalt last long
 Increase the Ductility
METHOD OF MIXING:
Wet Process
Dry Process