ReSource International is pleased to announce the award of a research grant from the Icelandic Technical Development Fund for a project to assess the technical possibilities of the addition of mixed waste plastic to asphalt.

The project will assess the technical feasibility of using mixed waste plastic, currently exported to Sweden for recycling and energy recovery, as an additive in hot mix asphalt. Numerous studies and real-life evidence from India suggest that not only would this help solve an economic and environmental problem of waste, but that it could also strengthen asphalt considerably and increase its lifespan. As Iceland has an unforgiving climate and one of the highest lengths of road per capita in the world – almost 50m per person – this has the potential to have a large impact on the Icelandic economy.

RSI will also use its expertise in microplastic monitoring to conduct in-depth assessments of any possible negative environmental effects from the process, including from road dust and leaching.

RSI will lead the project in partnership with two main Icelandic asphalt companies, Hlaðbær Colas and Malbikunarstöðin Höfði, the waste management company SORPA and the asphalt testing centre at the Icelandic Innovation Centre, and lifecycle assessments of the project will be conducted by a student from the Technical University of Denmark.