Noida Leads By Example, Starts Using Plastic Waste In Construction Of Roads, Bihar Follows

In an attempt to manage growing plastic waste, Noida authority have started using it in construction of roads in the city.

On Friday, the construction work began along both the lanes of the expressway on a 2.5-km-long stretch between Sector 14A and the Film City Flyover where plastic waste has been used along with bituminous concrete on both sides of the road.

"The authority is making efforts for better disposal of plastic waste and this initiative is a part of that. Also the roads thus constructed will have reduced cost and longer durability, as studies have suggested," Noida Authority CEO Ritu Maheshwari told PTI.

She added that in the future, all road projects in the city will include use of plastic waste helping dispose plastic and be a major step towards better waste management.

Reports suggest that using plastic waste in construction of roads results in better performing and long-lasting roads.

"From the laboratory and field studies, it has been concluded that with the usage of processed plastics in bituminous mixes, the life of a pavement can be enhanced 2 to 3 times by addition of 8 per cent plastic modifiers," General Manager and Chief Engineer Rajeev Tyagi said.

Bihar has also decided to use plastic waste in construction of roads.

The Bihar government has already been served a notice from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take serious note of its poor waste management system. To tackle it, they government has now decided to use plastic waste for the construction of roads in rural areas.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted a meeting of the Rural Works Department on September 12 and asked officials to maximise the use of plastic waste in the construction of rural roads, and at the same time ensure that the quality of roads is not affected.

¡°We have to improve our plastic waste management and also ensure environment conservation is maintained. At the same time, we have to see we do not have to procure plastic from other states for making roads,¡± said Nitish.

According to a report by Indian Express, Bihar rural works department official said, ¡°We are starting the process with plastic recycling plants. We will be needing at least a dozen plants to generate adequate plastic that can be used for road construction. We have banned polythene bags but we still have other kinds of plastic waste, such as milk packets to recycle.¡±