Use Of Waste Plastic in Bituminous Road Construction

  • Unique Paper ID: 205697
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 1
  • PageNo: 7332-7336
  • Abstract:
  • The increasing generation of plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges globally, particularly in India. Simultaneously, the deteriorating condition of road infrastructure due to inadequate binding strength of bitumen and rising construction costs necessitates innovative solutions. This research paper investigates the potential and effectiveness of incorporating waste plastic materials into bituminous road construction as a partial replacement for conventional aggregates or as a modifier for bitumen. The study reviews existing literature, experimental methodologies, and field implementations to evaluate the performance of plastic-modified bituminous mixes. Results from various studies indicate that the addition of 8% to 12% of shredded waste plastic by weight of bitumen significantly improves Marshall Stability values, reduces rutting and stripping, and enhances the overall durability of roads. Furthermore, this approach provides an environmentally sustainable solution by diverting plastic waste from landfills and water bodies. The paper concludes that waste plastic, particularly Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), can be effectively used as a bitumen modifier to produce high-performance road surfaces, offering dual benefits of improved road quality and plastic waste management.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{205697,
        author = {Vaishnavi Gajanan Dhole},
        title = {Use Of Waste Plastic in Bituminous Road Construction},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {7332-7336},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205697},
        abstract = {The increasing generation of plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges globally, particularly in India. Simultaneously, the deteriorating condition of road infrastructure due to inadequate binding strength of bitumen and rising construction costs necessitates innovative solutions. This research paper investigates the potential and effectiveness of incorporating waste plastic materials into bituminous road construction as a partial replacement for conventional aggregates or as a modifier for bitumen. The study reviews existing literature, experimental methodologies, and field implementations to evaluate the performance of plastic-modified bituminous mixes. Results from various studies indicate that the addition of 8% to 12% of shredded waste plastic by weight of bitumen significantly improves Marshall Stability values, reduces rutting and stripping, and enhances the overall durability of roads. Furthermore, this approach provides an environmentally sustainable solution by diverting plastic waste from landfills and water bodies. The paper concludes that waste plastic, particularly Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), can be effectively used as a bitumen modifier to produce high-performance road surfaces, offering dual benefits of improved road quality and plastic waste management.},
        keywords = {Waste Plastic, Bituminous Roads, Marshall Stability, LDPE, HDPE, Sustainable Construction, Road Durability},
        month = {June},
        }

Cite This Article

Dhole, V. G. (2026). Use Of Waste Plastic in Bituminous Road Construction. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 13(1), 7332–7336.

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