AMATA-SCG-Dow to Launch the First Recycled Plastic Roads in Industrial Estate

AMATA Corporation Public Company Limited, Chemicals Business of Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Dow Thailand Group recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop the first recycled plastic roads in Thailand. 

The roads will be developed for AMATA Smart City Chonburi in a pilot project that creates new value for plastic waste and advances a circular economy. The project offers opportunities to increase the durability of asphalt roads while reducing the amount of plastic waste in the industrial estate. AMATA Smart City Chonburi will have the first roads made out of recycled plastic in Thailand.

Currently, there is more than 1.5 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in Thailand. Some of that waste ends up as marine debris and eventually as micro plastic in our oceans seriously impacting the environment. The partnership between the three organizations will serve as a model of how organizations can collaborate to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment, advance a circular economy and create value for plastic waste. A total of 1.5 tons of recycled plastics in Amata Industrial Estate will be converted to roads that stretch 2,600 square meters, equivalent to approximately 100,000 plastic bags. The construction of the plastic asphalt road is expected to be completed by 2019.

Chulalongkorn University recently conducted a trial comparing asphalt roads made of recycled plastics with standard asphalt roads. The research stated that the asphalt plastic roads are 15-33 percent more durable and lead to six percent higher skid resistance.