A local authority in Scotland has used recycled plastic on a job to to resurface a highway.
North Lanarkshire Council trialled the EcoFlakes product in a hot-rolled asphalt mix on Chapelknowe Road near Motherwell.
It forms part of the UK Government’s three-year, £30m Live Labs 2 programme to decarbonise the local highway network.
The trial incorporated half a tonne of EcoFlakes, made by German company Ecopals, which mixes recycled plastic into bitumen in a bid to slow down the ageing of the road and reduce carbon emissions.
Another highway-surfacing trial in North Lanarkshire recently tested the use of biochar, created from heating grass cuttings, to absorb and store carbon.
Councillor Helen Loughran said: “This is a fantastic example of how local authorities can lead the way in tackling climate change.
“By trialling cutting edge new materials like EcoFlakes and biochar, we’re showing that sustainable infrastructure is not only possible but practical.”
A five-year monitoring period is now underway to assess the durability, carbon footprint and lifecycle costs of the materials.
