Roads made of plastic to be laid at Bengaluru International Airport

Bengaluru: An ambitious programme called ‘Plastic Beku’ was started by Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) in association with Big FM radio channel and the food division of ITC. This initiative involves collecting waste plastic and building roads using them in the premises of the airport.

The programme is the brainchild of Ahmed Khan, Managing Director of KK Plastic Waste Management (KPWM). The company builds polymerised roads by using a mixture of bitumen and shredded plastic.

The process involves heating bitumen to 1500 degree celsius then blending between 6 to 8 per cent of plastic with it. For one kilometre of road approximately one tonne of plastic is required. The roads built using this technology are claimed to last longer than asphalt roads.

Under the programme, waste plastic will be collected from three BIAL-adopted schools: Bettakote Government Primary School, Vijayapura Government Higher Primary Girls’ Model School and Ardeshanahalli Government Lower Primary School. Along with them Devanahalli taluk’s five panchayats, Resident Welfare Associations in North Bengaluru and some private schools too have been roped in.

A fifty-kilometre long road will be constructed at the airport from the collected plastic waste. Of the fifty tonnes of plastic waste required for the work about ten have already been collected said BIAL officials.

This move is to bring change in the irresponsible way plastic is used and to build durable and ecologically efficient roads. BIAL hopes to become a catalyst in changing people’s manner in their use of plastic added the officials.