KMC to pave 20 roads with recycled plastic

Kanpur: The Kanpur municipal corporation is set to go a green way by using recycled plastic waste for constructing 20 roads.

Municipal commissioner Sudhir Kumar said that this would be the first time in the city when plastic will be utilised in road construction. An estimated 30 tonnes of plastic will be incorporated into building 20 roads. The KMC plans to also utilise the plastic materials confiscated during raids conducted on vendors. A proposal has already been formulated for these plastic roads.

Tenders are expected to be floated within a few days, with plastic roads receiving priority, said Sudhir Kumar. Three to four roads in each zone are to be constructed using plastic waste.

In total, 170 roads are to be constructed or repaired for which a budget of Rs 106 crore has been released by the 15th commission and of these 20 roads will be constructed using plastic. The projected expenditure for 20 plastic roads will be around Rs 20 crore.

Replacing traditionally used bitumen and gravel with plastic waste is expected to lower the cost as well as enhance the durability of roads. Besides, it will also bring down the cost of maintenance. These roads are also durable in high temperatures.

Plastic waste is mixed with grits and both components are heated to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius.

After about an hour, the plastic melts and binds with the grit, which is then used for road construction alongside coal tar.