‘Plastic on road’ yet to hit the highway

‘Plastic on road’ yet to hit the highway
Deccan Herald

Though there is no doubt about the technology of using plastic waste to lay roads, the drive to use it to the hilt is missing.

Of around 10 tonnes of plastic waste generated in Bangalore per day, only five-six tonnes get to the recycling stage. This, when a method to convert plastic waste to use in laying roads has already won the experts’ nod. Even with approval from the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), the innovation is looking for a thrust - administrative and financial - to make the next stage.

“We are not promoting a brand, but a concept,” says Mr K Ahmed Khan, Managing Director of K K Plastic Waste Management Pvt Ltd, which has developed a polymer blend from littered plastic for use in laying roads. With records to back, Mr Khan is now looking for some action.

After approvals from authorities like Centre for Transportation Engineering (CTE) and Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), studies approving that the polymer blend’s mix with bitumen ensures an enhanced life for roads by 2-3 times, positive feedback from governments and organisations in India and abroad, including the UN Human Settlements Programme, Mr Khan says that the idea needs better backing.

“Of the 530 km which we were assigned to contribute to, around 300 km have already been laid. However, there should be a focussed initiative and financial assistance to tap on this method’s potential,’’ says Mr Khan.

Positive feedback

Mr Jaiprasad, Technical Advisor to the BMP, while speaking to Deccan Herald, says government-level meetings on the method had given positive feedback. “With this method, there is relatively less cracking and shrinkage. We tried it on Ring Road, Cunningham Road and West of Chord Road among other areas and are happy with the results,’’ he says and adds that the method is certainly worth a bigger network of roads.

More plastic roads could ensure better collection of plastic waste and in the long run, effective recycling of the same. While BMP has shown substantial interest in the project, lack of funding has been a hurdle. “Everyone seems to be going for it, but nothing substantial has come through in terms of implementation,” says Jaiprasad.

Presently, the KK Group collects plastic waste from rag-pickers and bins installed at locations including schools, and one in the Central Prison.

With a rate of Rs 6 per kg, Khan says collection of waste is no longer an issue and adds that the group is open to collaborative commercial projects.

“We have a proven, effective recycling option. The question is not about bans or advocacy. It’s about channelising plastic waste to the people’s advantage,” says Khan.

He says the concept could mean an extra five per cent in costs but promises the roads’ longer life would cover that. “Once we get on the highways, there will be more potential for this concept,” he says. For now, that sounds like one for the long road.