Philippines conglomerate San Miguel Corporation is helping to address the country’s waste problem by building roads from recycled plastic – which is believed to be a first in the country. A pilot test was already conducted at the end of last year on a 1,500-sq-m road in General Trias, Cavite.

For the testing road, approximately 900 kg of plastic waste was used for the asphalt – equivalent to about 180,000 sachets and plastic bags. San Miguel’s technology partner, global materials science company Dow, said that the recycled plastic waste acts as a binder together with bitumen in the production of asphalt. The company also pointed out that using recycled plastic can make roads more durable compared to conventional asphalt.

Independent lab testing done on San Miguel’s recycled plastic road asphalt reportedly shows that it exceeds the standards of the Philippines’ Department of Public Works and Highways.

“What we want to achieve is to help address an important environmental issue, and that is plastic waste. We want to create a sustainable use for waste plastics so that they don’t end up in landfills and our rivers and oceans,” said Ramon S. Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation.

According to San Miguel, pending further testing, the company is able to build recycled plastic roads in its facilities as well as major infrastructure projects.

All images: San Miguel Corporation