Now two civic bodies in Odisha-Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are to construct roads by using the recycled plastic. By doing so, the the government plans to get rid of the twin cities of plastic waste. Such plastic incorporated roads are also said to be more durable, especially to withstand the rainy season damages.
The Odisha State Pollution Control board ( OSPCB) has asked the respective civic bodies of the two cities to provide segregated waste to the State Public Works Department (PWD) for use in construction of roads.
Assimilating plastic with stone chips along with bitumen can improve the road condition. The recycled plastic has to be as small as stone chips. At least two kg of plastic chips are required for a drum of bitumen. The plastic-bitumen combination will increase resistance to water, say experts.
A senior environment scientist Dilip Kumar Behera said that Bhubaneswar and Cuttack municipal corporations have been asked to segregate plastic from the solid waste. The PWD will lift the plastic waste and send the bulk to a recycling centre, He said the plastic-mixed concrete is durable and less vulnerable to damage during rains.
A recent study by the pollution board revealed plastic waste in the city would constitute 9 per cent of the total municipal solid waste in 2013-14. It was 3 per cent in 2008. While 60 per cent waste is recycled, the rest remain uncollected.
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