DPWH to Use Plastic Bottle Waste in Road Projects
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is planning to use plastic bottle waste in road projects.
Recently, the department is taking a smart step to help both the environment and road development in the Philippines. The agency announced that used plastic bottles will now be part of the materials used in building national roads.
The program is part of a larger plan to make road construction more sustainable while finding ways to manage the country’s plastic waste problem. Polyethylene terephthalate or PET bottles, which are usually thrown away after a single use, will be processed and mixed into the asphalt used for paving roads.
This not only helps reduce the amount of plastic trash in landfills and waterways but also makes roads stronger and longer-lasting.
The new method has already been officially added to the DPWH’s list of standard materials and is now included in their project planning systems. It means future road projects will be able to include this innovation as part of regular construction guidelines.
“Turning waste into valuable resource for building better and more roads is the future of public infrastructure development in the country,” public works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said.
The department has supported other similar ideas in the past, such as using melted plastic bags in road projects. Currently, they are expanding that effort by using another common plastic waste material.
According to the DPWH, they will continue to support and invest in creative ways to improve infrastructure while reducing environmental impact.
The new move not only brings better roads to communities but also gives a second life to materials that would otherwise pollute the environment. The once considered garbage may soon become part of safer and longer-lasting roads across the country.
In a similar story, a beach resort in Catanduanes builds fences using recycled plastic bottles