 |
| Photo: Plasticroad.eu |
Two successful trial runs of cycle paths madefrom recycled plastic waste have paved the way for larger scale projects in the
Netherlands and abroad, the developers have said.
KWS, plastic pipe maker Wavin
and Total oil said on Thursday that after a 18 months of testing and
developing, they now have a design suited for industrial production and that
the technology is ready to be launched on the market in the first quarter of
2021.
The first plastic cycle paths, which were built in Zwolle and Giethoorn
with local council support, have proved to be able manage excessive water from
rain, severe drought and everything in between, the makers said.
The two 30
metre bike paths, which were made using 1,000 kilos of recycled plastic, were
also found to have reduced CO2 emissions by some 50% to 70% compared to
concrete or asphalt paths, the makers claim.
Sensors in the paths were also
used to monitor wear and tear and the paths were found to stand up well to
heavy weights, like refuse and maintenance trucks.
‘We have proven that our
ground-breaking circular concept – a prefab road based on recycled plastic – is
feasible in practice,’ Marcel Jager and Anne Koudstaal of the PlasticRoad team
said.
The next generation of roads will be more robust still which will make
the concept a viable alternative for asphalt and concrete motorways and car
parks as well pavements and school yards, the group said.
The roll out will
initially be focused on clients in the Netherlands and neighbouring countries,
after which they expect to scale up to markets in other parts of the world, the
makers said.
 |
| Artists impression: KWS |
Related Article:
