"Plstic Road" A solution or a upcoming Disaster. Know everything related to this topic.

                                  Plastic Road           

 Plastic road’ is identified as a radical solution to the menace of plastic pollution and durable roads.

 A background Plastic roads are in vogue lately with Centre for Studies on Solid Waste Management, working on use of shredded plastic in asphalt in road construction.The process of making plastic roads was patented in 2006.

What are Plastic roads?Plastic roads are tar roads constructed out of asphalt mixed with flexible polymer glue made from shredded waste plastic.The shredded plastics are made of plastic bags, cups and foam packaging which contain Polystyrene.The shredded plastic is then softened over low heat to avoid emissions and then sprinkled over hot gravel, coating the stones with a thin film of plastic.This plastic-coated stones are then added to asphalt (molten tar) which is used in constructing roads.

Advantages

LongevityWhile asphalt roads last for three years, plastic road has longevity of seven years.The polymer-glue made of plastic bond well with bitumen in asphalt, thereby enhancing the ability of the road to carry weight and hence its longevity.

Low-DefectsFurther according to CPCB plastic roads do not develop defects such as potholes, rutting, ravelling or edge flaw, even after four years.Further plastic ensures waterproofing thus reducing wear and tear.

Low CostEvery Kilometer of plastic road constructed requires 1 tonne of plastic waste and 9 tonnes of bitumen.Every tonne of bitumen saved will cost approximate ₹50,000 less.

Gateway to plastic wasteAccording to estimates, 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in India every day and 9 million tonnes every year.Further only 14 % of plastic packaging is collected for recycling.According to Indian Roads Congress, if all the roads built in the country between 2013 and 2016 had used 6%-8% plastic waste, around 330,605 tonnes of plastic scrap could be curtailed.

DisadvantagesBuilding plastic roads means reintroduction of plastics into the environment.Photodegradation of plastics may produce microplastics which may seep into the soil and ground water.Microplastics act like magnets for pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).Microplastics may persist, bioaccumulate, and can severely affect the biodiversity of the soil.Further if PVC is used in shredded plastics it may produce dioxins which are extremely harmful.

Plastic Roads in IndiaTamil Nadu is the first state to have adopted the plastic road technology with nearly half the roads are made of plastic.Over 16,000 km of plastic roads were laid in Tamil Nadu till 2014.Further plastic roads are constructed in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya and in neighbouring Bhutan.Further the government is encouraging the use of waste plastic in National Highways within a 50 km periphery of urban areas that have a population of 5 lakh or more.

Issues

Low adoptionWhile some states have like Tamil Nadu have adopted the technology, some states are yet to take off.Delhi for instance has not gone beyond pilot demonstrations.

No TargetThough there is recognition from government about the efficacy of the technology in building National Highways, no target has been set for it during 2017-18.

Lack of enforcementIn 2015, the Union government issued guidelines on plastic use with hot mixes for bitumen roads around urban areasHowever the civic bodies, road contractors and the Public Works Department haven’t followed the guidelines due to vested interests.

Lack of availability of shredded plasticFurther lack of availability of shredded plastic due to lack of enforcement of rules by municipal authorities.

Way ForwardAdoption of plastic technology should be encouraged in National Highway construction.An incentive scheme for segregation, cleaning, and cutting of plastic is necessary to make it available as a raw material.Instead of a blanket ban on plastic, what we need is a ‘garbage culture’ and a proper collection system in local bodies.