Many countries have started exploring the use of waste plastics on roads. However, many of these applications are highly localised and urban cities in developed countries have yet fully embraced this concept. What are the main challenges and concerns that these cities faced and how could this be overcome? How can we achieve true circular economy for waste plastics on roads? Our team in NUS led by Associate Professor Ong Ghim Ping Raymond explores the potentials of using waste plastics on roads from a technical viewpoint, the potentials it may hold in reducing waste plastics destined for the landfill, and how it has yet become fully embraced in developed countries (and especially in urban cities).

In particular, the team has been working on a project to explore the use of waste plastics on bituminous pavement surfaces with the target on identifying the potential specifications that meet structural, functional, safety, urban cooling, noise and environmental performances that is typically required for most urban cities in developed countries. Through this study, it is envisioned that a viable framework for a plastic circular economy for the road-building industry can be set up.