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<p>The Government is committed to exploring innovative ideas and processes for constructing,
repairing and maintaining road surfaces. The Department for Transport is aware of
a number of initiatives, both here in England and overseas, in which recycled plastic
and other waste product materials are added as a binding mix to asphalt. Technological
innovation in road maintenance processes can also improve efficiency and reduce waste
by recycling existing road material.</p><p> </p><p>As part of a Live Labs research
programme, the Department for Transport, in conjunction with the Association of Directors
of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) and private partners, announced
in January 2019 that we were providing Cumbria County Council with £16 million to
extend a trial for the selection and testing of recycled plastic in surfacing and
structural treatments on the Local Road Network for which they are responsible. This
trial will assess the suitability and durability of the plastics additives from minor
patching work and pothole repairs through to major resurfacing.</p><p> </p><p>Elsewhere,
on the Strategic Road Network, Highways England is committed to investing in innovation
to help meet the economic, environmental and efficiency challenges we face in our
changing world. Its Innovation Designated Fund provides £150 million in the first
Road Investment Strategy for innovation capital projects to discover and implement
emerging technologies, new materials and ways of working. Highways England currently
has no plans to deploy blended recycled plastic with bitumen in road surfaces, but
it continues to investigate its potential for future use.</p><p> </p><p>A trial of
asphalt containing Ground Tyre Rubber was successfully completed along the M1 motorway
in May 2019. By including a small amount of Ground Tyre Rubber into the asphalt surface
it can present a good opportunity to re-cycle tyre rubber at its end-of-life, while
not undermining asphalt properties and performance.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p>
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