The equivalent of more than 150,000 single-use plastic bags of waste has been used to resurface a carriageway in Cumbria.
Lamplugh Road in Cockermouth is the latest highway in the county to be resurfaced with waste plastic, recycling the equivalent of 158,571 single-use plastic bags.
The resurfacing has taken place as part of a £22.9 million initiative funded by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Cumbria County Council is working with waste plastic road company MacRebur to trial the sustainability and suitability of using plastic waste additives in highway construction.
MacRebur’s roads require less fossil fuel, resulting in fewer carbon emissions. The recent resurfacing of Lamplugh Road offset 2,093kg of carbon.
Toby McCartney, CEO of MacRebur, said: “Because our roads contain plastic, they are naturally more flexible, meaning they can cope better with contraction and expansion caused by changing weather conditions.
“Having gone through rigorous testing, it has been demonstrated by various laboratories across the world that our roads significantly improve the stiffness and deformation of asphalt.”
Lamplugh Road marks the third DfT-funded waste plastic highway in the county, with more set to be completed in various locations throughout the year.
Toby continued: “Whilst the trials are still taking place in Cumbria, our product can be used by local authorities across the country – and we’re looking forward to working with more councils to deliver better, cleaner roads.”
Allocated £1.6 million, Cumbria is one of eight projects selected to carry out real-world tests using new highways technology and methods on local roads.
Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I’m delighted that this fantastic road surface will now be used in Cockermouth, having been successfully trialled in other locations in the county.
“MacRebur’s ‘plastic roads’ provide a more durable and sustainable solution for road surfacing and filling potholes, as well as diverting plastics that would otherwise have ended up in landfill – and I look forward to treating more roads across the Cumbria network in the coming months and years.”
