First-Ever Road Partially Made of Recycled Plastic Found in Mexico

It is already a common assumption that plastics are the common reasons of pollution in the world that lead to global and climate change. In the past few years, there have been lots of steps to reduce the use of plastics or even banning it. In a previous article of Latin Post, a town in Guatamela reduced water pollution by 90 percent in three years after they ban the use of plastics.

Tourists were even not allowed to bring plastics once they are in San Pedro La Laguna, this is a town in Guatamela that does not allow the use of Plastic. This step of Guatamela catch the attention of the environment groups that it is indeed true that when everyone works together, the goal can be achieved.

Another history is made by the Mexicans this month as they they are the first people in the world to use recycled plastics as a material in building a road. The four-kilometer road that connects the Irapuato and Cuerámaro municipalities or known as the Guanajuato highway is first the world that is made by recycled plastics.

According to a feature from remezcla, Forbes magazine reported they used 1.7 tons which is equivalent to 425,000 plastics. The use of plastics as a material in road construction does not only help to solve plastic problems in the society but it also helps to give a longer lifespan by up to 50 percent, Forbes report. This means that plastic materials are indeed a good source in constructing infrastructures.

The director of Dow Empaques y Plásticos de Especialidad en México Paulo Sans as quoted saying:

"Demonstrating that we can obtain highways from modified asphalt that utilized recycled plastic is a step forward toward ... a solution ahead of the growing concern of the management for recycled plastic."

It can be recalled that part of the Paris Talks attended by the different nations, one of the core concern is the reduction of use of plastic materials. Moreover, a book was even released after the talk about the reduction of fossil fuels and use of plastics by an environment activist.

During a press conference, the Dow said, "This new technology not only offers a possible solution to the management of plastic waste, it also theoretically prolongs the life span of highways by 50% compared to conventional asphalt."

It can be recalled that Paula Sanz, the director of packaging and specialty plastics of Dow Mexico emphasized the use of plastic for economic reasons and that they can be used for not just once but for many times. They concluded that they are now planning to take advantage what they did in doing the first road made of recycled plastics

The steps of the Mexican government to use recycled plastics as a material in constructing infrastructure is an eye-opener for everyone that plastics can be used in a very beneficial way. The well-known plastic producers Dow Chemical, KWS and MacRebur have been studying and working to use their recycled plastic materials as a raw material in road construction for the past few years. The Dow even added that they are planning do the same in other places. If this will happen, this will really help the society and improve the stability of the road.