A Review Report on the Utilization of Plastic Wastes in Road Construction

Abstract

The world, today, is facing the lack of an eco-friendly and proper way of disposal of plastic waste. Population growth, urbanization, huge development deeds and easy lifestyles are mainly responsible for the rate of growing plastics in a huge amount throughout the world; the severity of the situation becomes more threatening to our environment. Now it is a matter of discussion how to utilize waste plastics to make it environment friendly. Our target is to find out the best possible way to utilize waste plastics in road construction. As a non-biodegradable material waste plastic brings harm to the environment. On the other hand, plastic wastes show good binder properties suitable for the development of roads. Waste plastics with PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) and PS (polystyrene) have softening points between 110 °C-130 °C and they do not produce any toxic gases. This makes waste plastics a good binder to use in bituminous roads. Plastic wastes derived from carry bags, cups and other industrial products are used as a coating over aggregate which show better compressive strength and bending strength, higher Marshall Stability value and suitable Marshall Coefficient. This in turn solves problems like rutting, pushing, dying, and formation of pothole and breaking of bituminous surfacing. When used as binder, these plastic wastes improve strength and durability of bituminous mix. So plastic roads act as a great substitute for conventional bituminous roads in hot-humid areas where temperature is normally very high and abundant rainfall occurs. Therefore waste plastic utilization as an additive or replacement of aggregates in bituminous mixes can be a promising alternative to ordinary flexible pavement as well as for keeping the environment clean. The study discusses the effects of different types of available plastic waste materials on bituminous roads and gives ideas about the most beneficial waste plastics.