FOR A SMOOTH RIDE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike will use plastic waste to asphalt over 40 per cent of the roads under a World Bank scheme. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: Following the success in increasing the durability of several stretches of roads that have been asphalted with plastic waste, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has decided to use polyblend for upgrading over 40 per cent of roads in the city to be taken up under World Bank assistance this year.

Over 140 km along 41 roads will be upgraded at a cost of Rs. 140 crores under the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Project this year. The civic body has used plastic waste to asphalt over 300 km of road so far.

The BMP, which is seriously planning recycling of dry waste in its new garbage contracts likely to implemented from next year, has initiated talks with the city-based KK Plastic Waste Management Private Limited for supply of the company's patented "KK Polyblend."

Durability

BMP Technical Adviser R. Jaiprasad told The Hindu on Tuesday that the durability of the roads laid out with shredded plastic waste is much more compared with those asphalted with the ordinary mix.

Pointing out that the World Bank authorities have approved the BMP's proposal to use plastic waste in this project, Mr. Jaiprasad said experts from the Central Road Research Institute and also from the Bangalore University's Centre for Transportation Engineering have tested the strength and durability of these roads.

"Use of the shredded plastic waste acts as a strong `binding agent' for tar making the asphalt to last long," he said.

Though the BMP is yet to place the order for the exact amount of polyblend required for the project, proprietors of K K Plastic Waste Management PVT Ltd., K Ahmed Khan and K Rasool Khan have already started preparations.

"We have no place to stock plastic waste. The existing plant has a capacity of recycling 10 tonnes a day. As we have been informed by the BMP that the World Bank programme will start by November-December, we are gearing up for the project," Mr. Rasool Khan said.

Procedure

Pointing out that the plastic waste is melted and mixed with bitumen in a particular ratio, Mr. Khan said roads laid with plastic waste mix are found to be three times better than the conventional ones. "This technology will result in lesser road repairs. Rainwater will not seep through because of the plastic in the tar. And as each km of road with an average width requires over two tonnes of polyblend, using plastic will help reduce non- biodegradable waste," he said.

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