Australian researchers have developed a technology that allows for the use of single-use plastics—from bags to milk bottles—for the construction of durable roads. This discovery could be key to solving the global problem of plastic pollution.
Scientists from Edith Cowan University in Australia presented an innovative method for recycling single-use plastic into a component for durable road pavement. The technology is based on the use of thermoplastics, which easily melt at standard asphalt production temperatures, allowing them to be integrated without forming toxic waste.
The problem, according to the researchers, is urgent: more than 500 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, and less than 10% of that volume is recycled. The rest settles in landfills and oceans, forming over 170 trillion plastic particles that contaminate the planet’s ecosystem.
“Recycling this waste into road paving materials not only helps reduce pollution but also makes roads more durable and resistant to wear,” noted postgraduate student Ali Godrati, a project participant.
The study showed that adding recycled plastic improves the performance of asphalt—increasing its elasticity, resistance to cracking, and resilience to extreme temperatures.
According to project leader Nuhu Mashaan, the innovation combines environmental goals with economic ones: “We are creating roads that last longer while simultaneously addressing one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.”
While the technology is still in the testing phase, the initial results, published in the journal Applied Sciences, are already being called “very promising.”
This new development could be a step towards a circular economy, where waste is transformed into a resource, and the roads of the future become an example of sustainable development.
