Construction company plans to make roads from recycled plastic

Road builder KWS Infra, a company owned by construction company VolkerWessels, has plans to build sustainable roads from waste plastic. These roads would be easier to build and maintain, are resistant to corrosion and weather and are more environmentally friendly. "Plastic offers many advantages over current road structures, both in the construction and the maintenance of it", Rolf Mars, director of KWS Infra, told Het Parool. The roads are also "hollow", leaving space for cables and lines. The "PlasticRoads" can be built much faster and is "virtually maintenance free", Mars said. "It is impervious to corrosion and weathering. We estimate that the life span of roads can be tripled. Its light weight makes construction not only easier, but is also ideal for poorer soil." According to the company, the PlasticRoad concept will also contribute to developments in cleaning up "plastic soup" out of the ocean. The plastic and synthetic materials can be recycled into prefabricated road sections. KWS Infra is still looking for partners to carry out a pilot project with these plastic roads. The city of Rotterdam has already volunteered to be the location of a trial.