# Using plastic waste for road paving **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172 "2017-08-23T20:44:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172/1 "2017-08-23T20:44:24Z")
…would potentially save oil, get rid of plastic waste, and create more durable paving, according to its inventor: https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/wwscripts/embed_player#playlist=/news/av/magazine-39693091/can-plastic-roads-help-save-the-planetA&poster=https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/2536/production/_95762590_p050z6wr.jpg&ad_site=/news/magazine&ad_keyword=&source=twitter ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172/2 "2017-08-23T21:00:48Z")
We make carpet out of some of it over here in the US. I remember reading about mixing in ground up tires into the asphalt mix for repaving highways. Not sure how that one turned out. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172/3 "2017-08-23T21:09:08Z")
A lot of the parks near my house use chopped up tires in new playgrounds instead of mulch chips. With 2 young kids that inherited some of my clumsiness, I’m happy with all of the recycled rubber mats and rubber chips that they use now. ---
**Author:** ![chunkyazian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@chunkyazian](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chunkyazian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172/4 "2017-08-24T14:27:48Z")
> **[Patently Absurd? Yes, a Patent Exists for a Pig Manure–Based Road Surface](https://blog.caranddriver.com/patently-absurd-yes-a-patent-exists-for-a-pig-manure-based-road-surface/)** > > From the December 2016 issue An internal-combustion engine is still a metal box of pistons that slap up and down (or side to side). But improvements through the years have transformed cars from the retrospectively simple devices of the Tin Lizzie era... I don’t know if it works, but the patent drawing looks promising ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172/5 "2017-08-24T22:47:11Z")
Ground glass has been used as a filler for roads, too. There are a number of roads in Baltimore City with ground glass filler in the asphalt. I’m not sure if that worked out well, either. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172/6 "2017-08-25T12:00:33Z")
I can think of one paving…experiment…that didn’t turn out well. Several years ago, a few short stretches of road were paved with asphalt that was infused with some type of oil (possibly canola??), because the manufacturer claimed that ice and snow would melt more rapidly on that pavement. The result–as you might have already guessed–was that traction on those roads became treacherous when it rained. (Who woulda’ thunk? 😉) Within short order, that new pavement was machined-off and replaced with conventional asphalt. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-plastic-waste-for-road-paving/107172/7 "2017-08-25T13:35:33Z")
Plastic waste has been successfully used. Thermoset plastics can be substituted for other fillers. Thermoplastic polymers can also be used, and are 60% of waste plastics. Thermoplastics would replace asphalt, since it is also a thermoplastic polymer. Even waste shingles can be used. Manufacturers waste is the best additive. Roof tear off is probably the greatest source, but the paper that sticks to the tear off shingles reduces the effectiveness of the paving materials.