The Potential of Plastic
Plastic roads have gained attention as a promising solution to two critical issues: enhancing road infrastructure and managing waste. However, despite growing support, their implementation is still inconsistent. At the conclusion of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign in 2024, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the need for mandatory use of plastic waste in highway construction, with 80 lakh tonne already repurposed for National Highways between New Delhi and Mumbai. That said, concerns about their technical feasibility and environmental impact continue to complicate their widespread adoption.
A sustainable solution India generates nearly 26,000 tonne of plastic waste daily, totalling 3.46 million tonne annually (CPCB, 2020). This figure places India after the US and EU in terms of plastic waste production...