Home / Technology / Dutch Engineers Build Roads From Recycled Plastic
Dutch Engineers Build Roads From Recycled Plastic
3 Sep
Summary
- Recycled plastic roads use sensors to monitor traffic and temperature.
- Modular plastic road sections are easier to install and drain better.
- Pilot paths in Zwolle and Giethoorn test plastic road durability.
In the Netherlands, engineers have been developing roads made from recycled plastic, with a notable pilot project in Zwolle. Opened in September 2018, this 30-meter path is predominantly built from recycled plastic, equivalent to hundreds of thousands of bottle caps or cups. The innovative design features a network of sensors embedded within the path, which continuously monitor bicycle traffic and the surface's response to temperature fluctuations.
This project, a collaboration between KWS, Wavin, and Total, utilizes modular, hollow sections instead of traditional asphalt. This construction method reportedly speeds up installation and improves drainage. The embedded sensors are crucial, treating the path as a live experiment to assess the material's long-term durability under daily use. Data collected is intended to inform future development and potential scaling of this technology.
Further pilot paths have since been implemented, including one in Giethoorn within two months of the Zwolle opening. By 2021, the consortium aimed to manufacture modular elements from municipal plastic waste, incorporating newer sensors for predictive maintenance. Similar projects have emerged globally, including a path in Mexico City and a different plastic-paving approach in Ghana, demonstrating international interest in plastic waste repurposing for infrastructure.
