As impossible as it may sound, plastic roads are a real thing and they are happening right now all over the world! The University of California San Diego recently brought this Dutch trend to the U.S. after paving a small road on their campus. Essentially, plastic roads use wasted plastic, such as bags and water bottles, and convert them into roads viable for driving. This invention reduces the amount of plastic in our oceans and omits less carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. In addition, there is a reduced amount of petroleum used in the creation of the roads, which is super beneficial guaranteeing that the extraction and production of petroleum releases a staggering amount of greenhouse gases, furthering the climate change crisis our Earth is currently facing. Plastic roads are also cheaper than asphalt roads, require less maintenance, and will last longer in our harsh environment. Although there are concerns about the microplastics entering our water and food systems, the average human consumes 70,000 microplastics every year, proving that this is already a very relevant and tragic issue affecting our health. Nonetheless, with the nearly 13 million tons of plastic floating in our oceans killing about 275 marine creatures every day, something needs to change, and this change needs to start with something we use everyday, like our roads. Think of a road in your town or city that is unsuitable for driving. Instead of wasting money on unsustainable asphalt, recommend bringing a plastic road to your area. And who knows, maybe your small town could make history!
NewsOct 05, 2019
Plastic Roads Are A Real Thing, And It's Time We Bring Them To The U.S.
Plastic roads, for real??
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