Although plastic can take up to 1,000 years to degrade making it a severe threat to our ecosystems, plastic’s resilient nature makes it perfect for repurposing it into roadways. That’s why the City of Los Angeles and Technisoil are collaborating to recycle plastic into material to pave roads in the city.
The plastic is turned into pellets, which are then combined with bitumen and used to create a less expense paving material with a lower carbon footprint. The technology will be tested out in Los Angeles at the corner of West First Street and North Grand Avenue for potential use all over the city. Additionally, these roads are more resistant to wear and tear than traditional asphalt, meaning less upkeep costs.
Finding creative uses for plastic helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our oceans, and repurposing pesky plastic into roadways reduces infrastructure costs and carbon emissions. If Los Angeles’ trial goes well, you may find yourself driving on a plastic roadway in the near future.
