Are Road Surfaces Getting Greener?

July 18, 2021

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Efforts are being made internationally to deal with the huge amounts of waste plastic produced, which contributes to global warming. Plastic waste is a recognised problem generally due to its inability to be broken down naturally. Powerful greenhouse gases are released from the plastic when elements such as sunlight and heat are present. As the atmosphere’s heat increases, it causes the plastic to break down further, creating methane and ethylene. This contributes to climate change, the planet continues to heat up and the process is repeated. This is a self perpetuating cycle on a vast scale, and one which isn’t decreasing any time soon.

Many industries have made significant advances in the race to provide eco-friendly alternatives. In many cases there is government support to help with this, as it can be an expensive process. Energy saving LED lighting is being installed wherever possible, and air source heat pump systems are being installed. The use of fossil fuels is gradually being minimised and innovations within electric vehicle production is coming on in leaps and bounds. There seem to be new sustainable solutions emerging regularly, a recent one relating to road surfaces in the UK.

Four years of tests and trials has produced an additive composed of granulated waste plastic and a bonding agent, developed by Scottish company MacRebur. The material, recently approved by the Department for Transport [DfT] will play a significant role in replacing bitumen, and so reduce carbon emissions. MacRebur says that its product is the first of its kind to be accepted as a viable, long term option for use on public highways

Toby McCartney, co-founder and CEO of MacRebur, said: “Processing non-recyclable waste plastic destined for landfill and adding them into asphalt, our product offers a green alternative for road construction – with each km of road laid using up the equivalent weight of 740,541 single-use plastic bags”.

So you may soon see Rhinos hire dumpers, rollers etc working away on recycled road surfaces in places like Stratford!

 

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