The moment I heard of South Africa’s first plastic road, I was extremely inquisitive about the research and input it took to pull this type of project off successfully. I can tell you, personally, I was not disappointed by the difference this could make to the future of our South African roads.
Shisalanga managing director, Donavan Deane Koekemoer stated that this tackles two of South Africa’s biggest problems. One of which is damaged roads and the other is recycling plastic waste. In one of the reports found on Averda, quoted “The unfortunate condition of many of our primary and secondary roads demands an immediate and long-lasting solution. The citizens who use these roads to get to school, work and clinics every day deserve safe roads that are well-maintained,” says Koekemoer. “On the other end of the scale, there is an urgent need to recycle plastic waste in South Africa, to minimise the waste ending up in landfill sites, and to reduce other environmental threats,” he adds. Koekemoer also said that the company would expand the use of this plastic-based road throughout South Africa.
The road was successfully paved by a company named Shisalanga Construction, a subsidiary of road construction company Raubex Group and officially put to use in March 2020. The road consists out of 3 million plastic bags. 1 km of the road makes use of 1,8 Million single-use bags. The plastic-asphalt mix used to make the road is more durable, less prone to potholes and more heat resistant than tar. This way of paving roads is also much cheaper to maintain than normal tarred roads. The Asphalt is made our of bitumen and stone, which Bitumen can be extended with recycled plastic materials, reducing the amount of fossil fuel used. The roads will eventually only be using waste from the Municipality in the area where the road is being built.
Kouga Municipality is piloting the new approach to tarring roads in partnership with MacRebur SA.
MacRebur is planning on establishing a plant in South Africa. This will be creating more Job Opportunities as well.
Sources:
News 24
Averda
Getaway
Cape Town etc
SA people
To view more Articles, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.
If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit Leads 2 Business Wiki.
PAUL David
Donavan and Team
Great achievement going forward what was the cost to pave this road. we should apply this method to all our rural roads making access to our rural schools ,clinic and homes.
Many Thanks
Sasha Anderson
Good Day Paul,
Thanks, we value your feedback.