The central government has urged states and union territories (UTs) to incorporate plastic waste into road construction within cities, aiming to improve plastic waste management.
States and UTs have been advised to mix plastic waste with up to 8 per cent of the weight of bitumen for urban roads, including internal roads in housing colonies and office complexes. This directive builds on the Indian Road Congress guidelines from 2013 and a 2015 order by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, mandating the use of plastic waste in roads within a 50 km radius of urban areas with populations of 0.5 million and above. The initiative is expected to enhance the utilisation of non-recyclable plastic waste.