Assessing Plastic Waste Usage as Additives in Flexible Asphalt Mix for Road Construction

Abstract

Disposal of waste materials including plastic wastes has become a serious problem in Ghana and plastic wastes burnt for apparent disposal cause environmental pollution. These wastes are non-biodegradable in nature causing environmental pollution and hygiene problems. Research conducted at various institutions across the world indicates that plastic wastes can be used in asphalting of roads. In this research, Plastic waste was coated around aggregate and subsequently mixed with bitumen to produce asphalt with plastic wastes and the samples obtained were subjected to various tests in the laboratory to determine its properties. The results show that, plastic waste improved the quality of aggregates, enhancing its properties. The use of this innovative technology will increase the strength and life span of roads; and more importantly, will help improve the quality of the environment by reducing and removing plastic waste, which comes at a lower cost. Roads made with plastic waste in an asphalt mix will therefore be of great solution to Ghana’s environmental problems by serving as an alternative solution to disposal of plastic waste and minimizing flood cases due to choked drains by plastic waste. It is recommended that, roads should be constructed and paved with plastic waste in an asphalt mix to study its behaviour, benefits and interaction with the environment.

Keywords: Plastic waste, Bitumen, Aggregates, Plastic Asphalt mix