Let the ray of hope keep sparking

For a long time, there had been plans to construct roads using discarded plastic. Now, that plan has finally succeeded. The Gabtali-Sadarghat road in Mohammadpur of the capital is known as Beribandh. A stretch of 225 meters has been constructed using discarded plastic waste. It looks like any other paved road, with the difference that it has been made using recycled plastic. Many may not realize the plastic content within it.

Although the practice of incorporating plastic into bitumen (pitch) for road construction is not new in developed countries, it is a first for our country. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) conducted experimental research and constructed it. According to the institution, in other countries, plastic is only mixed with bitumen in the upper layer of the road (surface course). In road construction, only 5% of the material used is bitumen, with 8% being plastic, which is not sufficient for environmental protection. In Bangladesh, plastic waste is not only used in asphalt overlay but also in the lower level (base course-1) mixed with stones. Therefore, compared to other countries, more plastic is being utilized.

According to a news report published yesterday, Tuesday (April 30), the road was constructed last September. Due to being experimental, RHD did not publish the news. As seen yesterday, Monday, even after seven months, the road remains intact. There are no cracks or potholes anywhere. It feels smooth like asphalt.

RHD workers informed that the road was constructed based on research conducted by Professor Shahadat Hossen, director of the Texas Institute of Transportation Management at the University of Texas, USA. Specifications for the plastic road were developed in the university's lab.
Director Ahsan Habib of the Road Research Laboratory has stated that the plastic-mixed road is also made with 60-70 grade bitumen. Eight percent plastic waste is mixed with it. Previous attempts were not successful because at that time, there was an attempt to mix stone, plastic, and bitumen together by heating (wet mixing). Due to the different melting points of plastic and bitumen, the correct mixture was not formed.

At temperatures ranging from 160 to 165 degrees Celsius, the stones are heated. Then, ordinary polythene is melted, forming a coating on the stones (dry mixing). Subsequently, bitumen is melted and mixed. When the temperature exceeds 140 degrees Celsius, the mixture is laid on the road. This method has been successful so far. To determine its complete success, more time is needed.

RHD’s additional chief engineer, Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, was responsible for the construction of the road. He informed the media that incorporating a large amount of plastic waste only with bitumen is not feasible. Therefore, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste is also being used beneath the asphalt overlay, which constitutes 5% of the total stone content in the base course. This allows for a significant amount of plastic utilization.

From various perspectives, this initiative has ignited a ray of hope. Plastic waste is incredibly harmful to the environment. If plastic waste can now be utilized in road construction, not only will costs be reduced, but it will also help preserve environmental integrity. Now, the crucial point is how long this initiative will sustain and how long it will be implemented. Our hope remains solely that the lamp of hope continues to burn. If indeed effective, this could be a significant milestone in Bangladesh's development.