AN innovative solution to two of South Africa’s toughest challenges, plastic waste and damaged roads, was demonstrated at Cliffdale, West of Durban, recently when a road was paved using recycled plastic as an ingredient in the asphalt
The trial, carried out by Shisalanga Construction, a majority owned subsidiary of Raubex Group Limited, was observed by representatives of the South African National Roads Agency, the Department of Transport and eThekwini Municipality.
“Shisalanga has combined these two challenges to produce the maiden recycled plastic paved road in Africa,” said Managing Director Deane Koekemoer, who added that they had been working on the project for several years.
“This process is not an easy one. While the technology is in use in India, parts of Europe and in the United States, no one has successfully applied the solution in our country, until now. The successful completion of this trial is a forerunner of great things to come from Shisalanga and we expect to extend this product throughout the country.”
Technical Manager, Wynand Nortje, said: “Shisalanga is the first South African company to successfully complete an application of recycled plastic road by utilising a binding agent that has unique properties and through this, creating a usable and durable solution for the road construction industry.
“The type and quality of the recycled HDPE plastic is critical in ensuring that the binding process is successful. The recycled plastic is readily available from South African recyclers and provides an appropriate use in this road construction application,” Nortje said.
