PWD mulls use of plastic waste for building roads
NEW DELHI: The Public Works Department (PWD) is considering the option of using waste plastic material to construct and repair roads. The national capital produces the highest amount of plastic waste in the country.
Principal secretary (PWD) Manoj Kumar Parida signalled that a pilot exercise in this connection may begin in the next three to four months on a few selected stretches in the city.
“We are planning to use plastic waste for road construction and repair. We will take the help of experts in executing this idea,” said Parida.
A senior PWD official, who did not wished to be named, said that homework on this project is yet to be done by the department as it is a new concept in Delhi.
“The technology regarding how to use plastic waste in road construction is yet to be explored by the department. We will take help of the experts to know exactly how to do it efficiently,” the official said.
He further said that discussions about the project were taking place within the department at initial level and they were hopeful of positive results.
“We have not yet finalised the road stretches where waste plastic material could be used for road repairing or road construction. This will be done after we come up with a concrete plan,” he added.
According to Central Pollution Control Board data of 2017, Delhi produces 689.5 tonnes of plastic waste per day.
Chennai generates 429. 3 tonnes per day which is followed by Kolkata (425.7 tonnes) and Mumbai (408.2 tonnes).
The Plastic Waste Manage- ment Rules, 2016, says that plastic waste should be used for road construction. However, little has been done to implement the rule.
Experts said that the idea is feasible and is already being implemented in other cities like Chennai and abroad.
Senior principal scientist, CRRI, MN Nagabhushana said that various technologies are available for using plastic waste in road construction.
He said that the most popular one in India was use of shredded plastic with bitumen.
Chitra Mukherjee, head of the programme at Chintan, a Delhi based NGO which works on waste management said, “We can’t say that use of plastic waste in road construction is the best idea as it will also have challenges and may affect ground water. We should be looking at how to reduce plastic waste rather than finding ways to dispose it.”