Reuse of waste plastic as an additive in asphalt concrete: An overview

Abstract

This review is centered on the use of waste plastics as an additive for road construction. This review discusses extensively the state-of-the-art methods that can be employed in achieving a waste plastic bituminous mixture. These approaches may help by contributing to the reduction of plastic wastes which constitute nuisance to the environment. Plastics are currently at the top of the international waste management agenda - a global problem, but with regional variations. Several studies have shown that plastic can stay on earth for thousands of years without deterioration and poses a great threat to the atmosphere and humanity when disposed improperly. Hence, there is the need to find a solution to such menace. The utilization of waste plastic to enhance service properties in road paving applications was considered a long time ago. Nowadays, it has become a real alternative and several literature reviews in many countries have confirmed the significance and beneficial effects of utilization of waste plastic in a bituminous pavement construction. The utilization of waste plastic for road construction can also contribute in minimizing the disposal problem and environmental hazard caused by non-biodegradable waste plastic.