Karachi’s ‘first plastic road,’ carpeted with recycled plastic waste, was inaugurated in the metropolis on Monday as a petroleum company has taken a significant step towards reducing plastic waste and promoting environmentally friendly practices by introducing a plastic-infused road.
Shell Pakistan has recently announced that it has successfully constructed a road by recycling discarded Shell lubricant bottles, thereby addressing the issue of plastic waste. The initiative was carried out in collaboration with BRR Enterprises, a startup, and the local authority, District Municipal Corporation (DMC) South.
A staggering 2.5 tons of discarded Shell lubricant bottles were recycled for the construction of this remarkable road, measuring 730 feet in length and 60 feet in width. By utilizing the dry process method, the plastic bottles were effectively incorporated into the asphalt, significantly reducing plastic waste.
Plastic waste poses a severe threat to the environment due to its non-biodegradable and toxic nature. Shockingly, research indicates that a mere plastic bag can take up to 500 years to decompose, while a plastic bottle can linger for approximately 300 years. However, this innovative plastic-infused road offers a sustainable solution to the plastic waste problem.
Waqar Siddiqui, the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Shell Pakistan Limited, inaugurated the newly-built road in Karachi and expressed his enthusiasm for the project.
