Punjab to introduce plastic roads

Initiative aimed at helping solve infrastructure, environmental challenges

LAHORE:

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his interest in the construction of plastic roads due to their exceptional durability compared to traditional bitumen roads.

On Tuesday, the chief minister approved the implementation of these roads in the province, acknowledging their growing popularity for their environmental advantages and increased resistance to damage.

Plastic roads represent a new approach to sustainable construction practices, as they are either partially or entirely composed of plastic or plastic composites combined with other materials.

As per a recent report by the World Bank, plastic roads are gaining global recognition as a sustainable solution to plastic waste, while also offering superior durability compared to conventional coal tar-based roads.

The Yale School of Environment published a report emphasising that India began experimenting with these roads nearly two decades ago, and they have now been installed over 60,000 miles in the country. Plastic roads are also gaining traction in countries such as Britain, Europe, and various parts of Asia, including South Africa, Vietnam, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States.

Bangladesh is also exploring the utilization of resilient materials, including plastic waste, to construct roads in eight of its administrative divisions.

A study highlighted the goal of substituting virgin polymers, widely used to modify bitumen as a binding material in road construction, with recycled plastics as a useful final sink.

By following this approach, assuming approximately one ton of plastics is required for one kilometre of road, it has the potential to divert 57,803 single-use food containers, 2.5 million straws, or 166,667 single-use grocery bags from becoming ocean waste.

Moreover, plastic roads are expected to contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, with each kilometre of plastic road saving approximately three tons of carbon dioxide compared to incinerating plastic waste.

The report also highlights the absence of solid paved roads, crucial for development, in many fast-growing developing countries across South Asia. Roads serve as vital arteries of economic and social activity, facilitating trade, connecting producers to consumers, enabling access to education and healthcare, and ultimately boosting economic growth and reducing poverty.

By utilising plastic waste to build essential infrastructure, we can provide reliable transportation to citizens while contributing to a cleaner planet.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2023.