The Himachal Pradesh government has come up with a novel way of paving roads using plastic waste.A target of constructing 150-km long stretch of plastic roads has been set during the current financial year.
“All divisions of the PWD are using plastic for roads. This year the PWD will build 150 km of roads surfaced with plastic waste. Last year 42 km of roads were built using this material,” said the state’s PWD minister Gulab Singh . “We are able to make use of this non-bio degradable waste which otherwise pollutes the environment. These roads are stronger and last longer, besides being cheaper than bitumen,” said Singh.
“The state government has so far collected 104 tonnes of plastic all over the state.We have already used 40 tonnes of this waste to construct roads,” the PWD minister said.
Plastic waste is shredded by a simple machine and then heated upto 160 degree centigrade after which it is used to pave roads.
“Some states have asked for our help and want to make plastic waste roads as well,” Singh said.
Himachal Pradesh is one of the first states in the country to ban the use of plastic. From 15 August, it will ban the use of disposable plastic plates and cups as well.