By now, most of the public know about the dangers of plastic. The artificial substance, which was invented in 1907, started as a modern marvel, transformed virtually everything in our lives. We use it to store our food and to make nearly everything from computer parts to baby bottles. In fact, certain non-plastic items such as glass soda bottles are nearly impossible to find in stores these days. But while it has advanced our society and improved our overall health, it is currently taking over the world in all the wrong ways. And the worst part isn’t just the fact that plastic is polluting our planet, it’s that it takes many, many years to break down, making it a hazard for plants and wildlife.
People have tried to solve this problem on their own, but have fallen short. However, that could soon change thanks to a company out of the United Kingdom. They have found an ingenious way to recycle old plastic bottles while improving our roads at the same time! MacRebur came up with a method of turning old plastic bottles into renewable asphalt. Not only is this a great solution, but it is also far more durable and lasts much longer than traditional asphalt. Here’s a look at how it’s done and what the company is doing.
MacRebur CEO Toby McCartney was working in Southern India with a charity when he came up with an idea. The work was with landfill pickers, and part of the plastic they found was melted down and turned into filler for potholes.
The new technology created an upgraded form of asphalt that dramatically increases the lifespan of the material. Plus, it lowers the carbon footprint by reducing how much fossil fuel is being used in the manufacturing process.
In a nutshell, the blend is granulated plastic waste that’s combined with an asphalt concrete formula that’s typically used to make roads.
The type of plastic they use is very specific. It must be labeled as waste, so no plastic that is new or recycled can be used. The plastic that’s used in this asphalt must melt at a certain temperature.
Some plastic can’t be used, but most can. That includes the most difficult to recycle black plastic. Not only is this technique an effective way to make asphalt, but it’s also a lot cheaper than the old technique. After all, they use waste that would otherwise be sent to the dump.
When the plastic road is put down, it looks like ordinary asphalt, but it’s much more flexible. As the road continues to experience the heat and cold, it will take much less elemental damage.
Also, since they are an enhanced form of asphalt, they tend to last three times longer and are 60 percent stronger. This means motorists experience reduced cracking and potholes in the road!
Not only can we use it on roads, but it can also be used to make driveways, airport runways, and parking lots.
This technology is a win-win for humans and the planet.
Isn’t it nice knowing that we still have viable options to help save our planet? It’s never too late to start.
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Source: Bright Side
