Bottles To Bridges: Making Infrastructure From Recycled Plastic

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Bottles To Bridges: Making Infrastructure From Recycled Plastic


November 1st, 2011

By Andrew Price

Read More: http://www.fastcoexist.com/1678700/b...cycled-plastic

Website: http://vertechcomposites.co.uk/

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Welsh company Vertech recently led the construction of Europe’s first 100 percent recycled plastic bridge. The roughly 90-foot bridge, which spans the River Tweed at Easter Dawyck in Peeblesshire, Scotland, was made out of 50 tons of waste plastic from end-of-life vehicle recycling and everyday plastic bottles. The components of the bridge were constructed off-site, and then assembled in only four days, despite what Vertech describes as “challenging weather conditions.” Remarkably, the entire manufacturing and assembly process took just two weeks. And the completed bridge won’t rust and doesn’t need regular maintenance. Even better, it’s 100 percent recyclable itself.

- This kind of “thermoplastic” has been used for bridges in the past. In 2009, the U.S. Army's Fort Bragg had a recycled-plastic bridge constructed (Rutgers engineers were involved with that project as well). But Vertech is betting that recent advances in materials science will make thermoplastic strong and inexpensive enough for use beyond the military. The company plans to provide thermoplastic materials as an alternative to timber, fiberboard, and other construction materials--possibly even steel and concrete.

- Whether recycled plastic can help address America’s infrastructure problems remains to be seen. So far, the bridges made from thermoplastics have been small ones. But Vertech’s progress is an encouraging sign. We certainly have plenty of plastic trash.

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• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki1ppp-vJcs" target="_blank">Video Link