‘USE OF PLASTIC FOR ROADS HELPS IN ITS DISPOSAL

‘USE OF PLASTIC FOR ROADS HELPS IN ITS DISPOSAL
Vijay Times

THERES good news for Bangaloreans in general and motorists in particular.

According to noted environmentalist Suresh Heblikar, the quality and longevity of around 70 per cent of the roads in Bangalore can be improved by using the plastic generated in the City.

Heblikar said the condition of the roads could be improved by using nonbiodegradable plastic along with the bitumen used for laying roads. Potholes could be filled using such bituminous asphalt, he observed.

BETTER QUALITY ROADS

"The City produces about 10 to 15 tonnes of plastic and improper disposal of plastic leads to environmental imbalance. By using plastic along with bitumen while asphalting roads, the quality of the roads get improved even as plastic waste gets disposed without causing any hazards," Heblikar said.

"Waste can be converted into wealth. In India, we cannot curb the use of plastic totally and stop using it. Paper bags cannot be a substitute for plastic bags always," Heblikar said.

Stating that plastic was very much necessary, he said that the problem was with thin plastic and plastic with a thickness of up to 40 microns.

USE AND EMPLOYMENT

"When these are thrown carelessly, it has an adverse effect on the environmental balance," the environmentalist pointed out.

"The process of utilising plastic waste in asphalting can provide employment to a number of people besides strengthening the roads," he said and added that the concept of using plastic waste along with bitumen was economically viable too.

Already, plastic has been used in some roads taken up under the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project(KMRP) on a pilot basis.

LIKE MINDS GET TOGETHER

"K K Waste Plastic Management, an organisation, has come forward to extend technical assistance. Eco watch has also extended its co-operation. The authorities of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and Public Works Department (PWD) should take a firm decision on using plastic waste in road works," he said.

The Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) was finding it difficult to segregate plastic from the 3,000 tonnes of waste generated everyday, he claimed.

DRAIN CLOGGING LESSENS

"By this, the problem of drains being clogged by plastic wastes can be minimised," Heblikar said.

Rasool Khan of K K Waste Plastic Management said that around 200 km of roads in the City had been asphalted with the plastic mixed bitumen.

CITY ROADS WITH PLASTIC MIX

Plastic mixed bitumen has been used on several roads including the ones in Dollars Colony in J P Nagar, near Cauvery Theatre, Basavanagudi, Jayanagar, Chandra Layout, Rajajinagar, West of Chord Road and Old Madras Road.

"Plastic has been collected from several apartments including Mantri Apartments and from wards like Kempegowdanagar, Vishweshwarapura, Basavanagudi and Pattabhiramanagar. There is a shortage of place for storing the collected waste and we have requested two acres of land for the purpose," he added.

"Plastic e-waste which is generated will also be used," he said.