Web Desk
Capital Development Authority (CDA) with the help of several private enterprises has launched a mega project of re-carpeting national roads under the “World Without Plastic” programme.
Ataturk Avenue, one the busiest roads in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, has been identified for re-carpeting with eight tons of used plastic (PET bottles), mixed with the traditional road construction material .
The project allows the use of recycled PET waste to be part of a circular plastic economy and have a considerably positive impact on the environment.
This new technology has been used before globally, including in neighbouring India. It is the first time Pakistan is adopting it under a public-private partnership.
‘Besides being an environment-friendly project, the road will also be a model project in durability, sustainability and cost-effectiveness,” according to a CDA official.
The roads re-carpeted with plastic last almost twice as long and are 51 per cent stronger.
Coca-Cola Pakistan and Afghanistan has partnered with Capital Development Authority (CDA) and TeamUp ( National Incubation Centre) to work towards creating a World Without Waste.
This mega-project involves locally introducing the concept of re-carpeting national roads with plastic waste.
Plastic roads first constructed in 2001 consist of an asphalt mix with plastic waste incorporated into the asphalt mixture. The implementation of plastics in roads also opens a new option for recycling post consumer plastics. Australia, Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and many other countries have used technology which can incorporate plastic waste into an asphalt mix.
In India, 703 km length of National Highways have been constructed using waste plastic. Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued guidelines for mandatory use of waste plastic in Periodic Renewal with hot mixes and in wearing coat of service road on national Highways within 50 km periphery of urban area.
