The central government has directed states and union territories (UTs) to incorporate plastic waste into urban road construction projects. This initiative is intended to address the persistent challenge of plastic pollution by mandating the use of plastic waste comprising up to 8% of the bitumen weight in roadworks. The directive covers a range of urban infrastructure, including internal roads in residential areas and office complexes.
This latest directive follows the Indian Road Congress’s guidelines established in 2013, which advocated for the use of plastic waste in road construction. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had previously mandated, in 2015, that states and UTs employ plastic waste in roads within 50 kilometres of urban areas with populations exceeding 500,000. The recent communication from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reiterates this mandate and urges states and UTs to enforce these guidelines more rigorously. In addition, the central government has advised that states coordinate with their key road construction agencies, such as the Rural Development Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and Panchayati Raj institutions, to implement this policy effectively.
Despite these efforts, some experts question the efficacy of using plastic waste in road construction as a primary solution for managing plastic pollution. Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh, Programme Manager for the Centre for Science and Environment’s municipal solid waste and circular economy unit, argues that while using plastic waste in roads is a form of end-of-life disposal, it is less favourable compared to methods like mechanical recycling and co-processing. Singh emphasises that reducing plastic waste should be the primary strategy, with recycling and co-processing as preferred alternatives. On a positive note, as of July 2021, approximately 703 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed using plastic waste. Various local authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram and municipalities in Tamil Nadu, have also adopted this practice. Proponents of the technique suggest that incorporating plastic waste can enhance road stability, strength, and water resistance, potentially extending the lifespan of road infrastructure.
