The streets of Los Angeles will serve as a testing ground for a new asphalt compound made from recycled plastic. Developed by TechniSoil Industrial, the material incorporates plastic waste that would typically be discarded, mixing it with recycled asphalt reclaimed directly from the streets.
The compound is the result of seven years of research and development. In this new asphalt, plastic converted into oil replaces bitumen, making the material 100% reusable and offering eight to 13 times the durability of conventional asphalt.
The new asphalt is applied using a machine dubbed the "recycling train," which removes, grinds, and mixes the old pavement with the plastic before immediately reapplying it in a continuous, relatively fast process. “It is basically a continuous process where the train goes down the road and the finished [pavement] comes out the back end,” says Sean Weaver, president of TechniSoil Industrial, in an interview with Fast Company.
In addition to being more durable, the plastic-based asphalt has a carbon footprint up to 90% smaller than regular asphalt. This reduction is because the compound eliminates the need to transport raw materials to construction sites by truck, as it relies on the on-site recycling and immediate reapplication of the existing pavement.
The first tests will begin this December when the pavement is laid. The streets paved with the new compound will be monitored for two years to assess its long-term durability.
Source: Haus.
This article was written by Romullo Baratto. The translation is powered by AI.
