Recycled Plastic to Transform Puebla’s Streets, Homes

Puebla’s Association of Industrialists, Recyclers, and Plastic Traders, plans to propose the use of recycled materials for street construction to the Puebla City Council in 2025, aiming to cut costs and promote sustainable infrastructure.

Director Amadeo Villarreal explained that as part of the Business Organizations Council (COE), the association aims to launch projects using recycled plastics. These materials have proven durability and can positively impact construction costs and sustainability. The association, comprising 14 affiliated companies generating 500 direct jobs, claims that using recycled plastic in construction can reduce costs by up to 60%.

Villarreal highlighted two projects for 2025: building streets with recycled plastic and producing housing materials. The organization is already in talks with government agencies to use this material for resurfacing streets in residential neighborhoods with light vehicular traffic, avoiding heavy loads like 50 or 60t trailers. This approach could reduce municipal budgets for such projects, allowing more funds to be allocated to major avenues and boulevards requiring extensive work.

The second initiative involves promoting a housing program that replaces traditional metal roofing with recycled plastic, which boasts a lifespan of over 400 years. Villarreal mentioned plans to present this project to the State Housing Commission, aiming to benefit low-income families needing home improvements.

The entrepreneur emphasized the versatility of recycled plastic but noted the need for research into its successful applications. The association plans to collaborate with authorities to provide clearer insights and promote better use of public resources. "We have a strong socio-environmental commitment that benefits the population. It is not about demonizing plastic but leveraging its advantages," Villarreal stated.

Recycled Plastic: A Game-Changer in Construction Materials

Experts highlight the many advantages of recycled plastic over traditional construction materials. Its use in place of virgin materials aligns with a circular economy approach, reducing waste, energy consumption, and carbon emissions. Additionally, recycled plastic is lightweight compared to materials like concrete, wood, and aggregates, making it safer and easier to transport, handle, and install.

Sibele Cestari, Plastic Materials Researcher, Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, describes plastic as the perfect building material. "It is cheap to transform, readily available, and easy to mold," she said. Plastic’s durability, waterproof nature, and insulating properties make it suitable for various climates. Furthermore, it requires less energy for processing, with most plastics melting at around 200°C, much lower than materials like glass or aluminum.

Cestari advocates for a reevaluation of the world’s relationship with plastic, emphasizing sustainable use. "The issue is not plastic itself but the economic system. All plastic can be recycled or upcycled, but profitability remains a barrier," she explained. She stressed that adopting plastic in construction effectively reduces waste by repurposing it for fixed applications, ensuring it no longer reenters the environment.

Globally, several initiatives already transform plastic waste into construction materials. For instance, Canadian company JD Composites built the world’s first house made entirely of recycled plastic bottles in 2019. Located in Nova Scotia, this hurricane-resistant home used over 600,000 bottles. In Latin America, the social enterprise Conceptos Plásticos repurposes plastic waste to construct homes and classrooms in Colombia, employing women to collect and sell plastic waste, providing stable incomes for many families.