The Times of India            26.08.2013

Plastic waste for road construction

BHUBANESWAR: To rid the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack of plastic waste, the Odisha State Pollution Control board ( OSPCB) has asked the respective civic bodies to provide segregated waste to public works department (PWD) for use in construction of roads.

Sources said a few cities in India have successfully used recycled plastic for road construction. "We have sent letters to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack municipal corporations to segregate plastic from the solid waste. The PWD will lift the plastic waste and send the bulk to a recycling centre," said senior environment scientist Dilip Kumar Behera.

He said the plastic-mixed concrete is durable and less vulnerable to damage during rains. "Roads laid with such mixture do not develop cracks easily," Behera said.

A recent study by the pollution board revealed plastic waste in the city would constitute 9% of the total municipal solid waste in 2013-14. It was 3% in 2008. While 60% waste is recycled, the rest remain uncollected.

Chief engineer (roads) Bijan Behera said assimilating plastic with stone chips along with bitumen can improve the road condition. "The recycled plastic has to be as small as stone chips. At least two kg of plastic chips are required for a drum of bitumen. The plastic-bitumen combination will increase resistance to water," said Behera.

BMC commissioner Sanjib Mishra said they would soon discuss collection and transportation of plastic waste with the PWD. "The proposal will definitely solve city's sanitation problem to a certain extent," he added.