Building Roads with Plastic Waste: A Sustainable Solution for Kenya?

🧱A company in Nairobi is making bricks out of plastic waste mixed with sand to build roads in Kenya.

🚧The plastic bricks offer a solution to Kenya's lack of paved roads, as 90% of roads in the country remain unpaved.

🌍Similar innovations have been adopted in other countries, like India, where plastic waste is mixed with asphalt for stronger and longer-lasting roads.

🛣️Using plastic waste in road construction may reduce the amount of plastic ending up in landfills or in the environment.

⚠️But experts caution about the release of microplastics into the environment through road abrasion and the need to reduce plastic production overall.

How are the plastic bricks made?

—The plastic bricks are made by mixing plastic waste with sand and heating the mixture to mold it into shape using a hydraulic press.

Are the plastic bricks cheaper than traditional bricks made from concrete?

—According to the company, the plastic bricks are about 25% cheaper than traditional bricks made from concrete.

What other products can be made from plastic waste?

—The company is also working on making manhole covers, roofing tiles, and drainage gutters from plastic waste.

Is using plastic waste in road construction environmentally friendly?

—While it helps reduce plastic waste and offers a solution to unpaved roads, experts warn about the release of microplastics and the need to decrease overall plastic production.

What is the current production capacity of the company?

—The company is currently producing around 1,500 blocks per day, but aims to increase its production to meet the growing demand.

00:03A company in Nairobi is making bricks out of plastic waste mixed with sand.

00:23Kenya has a high amount of plastic waste due to its tough ban on plastic bags.

01:14The mixture of plastic and sand is heated in an extruder to create a dough-like material.

02:51The plastic bricks are made using a hydraulic press that squeezes them into shape.

03:07The company produces around 1,500 blocks per day, but aims to increase its production.

04:31Experts warn about the release of microplastics into the environment through road abrasion.

05:08Microplastics are found in nearly every sample of food, water, and air.

08:10The company plans to expand internationally and replicate its solution to other regions.