EASTERN CAPE - JEFFREYS BAY GETS SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST EVER PLASTIC ROAD AS CONTSTRUSTION BEGINS

Construction has started on South Africa's first plastic road.

It's being created in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape and if it proves successful, more might be on the cards.

Storm drains are being dug and tar is being broken up.

All in preparation for an innovative road, constructed from pellets of waste plastic.

The Kouga Municipality has a R500-million backlog in road maintenance.

It hopes this eco-friendly road will be more durable and produce fewer potholes.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane has been told about 1.8-million plastic bags will be used in one kilometre of road.

"Our intention here in the municipality is that people can recycle their plastic, we can mix it with the right binding agent and ensure that ultimately we can lay out new roads in towns such as this one", Maimane said.

Environmentalists say they'll watch the trial project closely.

" I haven't been able to find any research on whether the road does break down into microplastics later on or if it adheres to any toxins like microplastics do. So I think there is more research needed," Stacey Webb of Sustainable Seas Trust said.

If the project is a success, the Kouga Municipality hopes to build a factory to produce the plastic pellets locally.

via - ENCA