The plastic ban implemented by China on 1 January 2018, followed by other countries such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia, has heavily affected Australia’s waste recycling industry. Over the past few years, the Australian plastic recycling market has been reliant on exporting its waste overseas because of the lower costs. The local recycling industry does not currently have the appropriate infrastructure to cope with this sudden change and new uses for these materials are being explored.
Plastic is a significant contributor to Australia’s waste generation. With so much plastic waste generated and going to landfill, there is growing interest in exploring the viability of using recycled plastic in roads.
The purpose of this project is to gain a better understanding of the viability of using recycled plastics in asphalt and sprayed seals applications. The main element of the project is a review of local and international literature focussed on defining the benefits and challenges of using recycled plastics in road pavements including case studies of local and overseas road trials. The main outcome of this project is to provide Austroads with guidance on future research and development priorities.
Whilst there may be environmental benefits associated with the use of recycled plastic, there are concerns regarding the potential health and safety hazards that road workers might be exposed to while handling these materials, sustainability impacts, and impacts on the surrounding environment. One of the recommendations in the report is the need for the development of a governance framework on the use of plastics in road construction.