Motion to use plastic waste to repair our county's roads passed to scrutiny committee

Tuesday's Council meeting saw the Lib Dems propose a motion to start a feasibility study into using waste plastic to repair our county's roads. This both environmental and economically beneficial motion has been passed to the overview and scrutiny committee to assess its use in Wiltshire.

Cllr Brian Mathew proposing his motion argued that while, "parts of our planet are starting to drown under a sea of waste plastic, and with UK waste plastic no longer going to China for recycling, we have to find another way and find a use for this material here at home. What is less known is that it is already underway in the UK. And if this was extended to all local Authority areas, a productive use for as much as 60,000 tonnes of waste plastic could be found each year in UK roads."

Cllr Mathew advocated the numerous benefits of the approach with, "the lifespan of roads being increased, road maintenance costs reduced, landfill tax costs reduced. And it would be cost neutral in the process." Defending the practicalities of the process, Dr Mathew cited that four local authorities in the UK are already using plastic waste on a regular basis in their roads programmes.

ENDS