In a boost to its sustainability mission, the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport) will receive approximately 11 tonnes of waste plastic from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). This plastic would be used to conduct trials that would enable BIAL to pave the roads within the Airport campus. BIAL has already taken the first step towards the management of plastic by banning single use plastic at the BLR Airport.
The plastic was handed over to a team from BIAL by the Worshipful BBMP Mayor Gagambike Mallikarjun in the presence of BBMP Commissioner, N. Manjunath Prasad, D. Randeep, Special Commissioner – Solid Waste Management, BBMP and Ravikumar Surpur, Special Commissioner – Health, BBMP.
As a responsible corporate focussed on sustainable development, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) – operator of the BLR Airport – requires over 50 tonnes of plastic to pave approximately 50-lane-km of internal roads.
BIAL recently conducted laboratory tests by blending plastic with bitumen and the results were in the acceptable limits. The polymerised road has strong binding ability that can withstand extreme weather conditions and as compared to asphalt. While asphalt roads are expected to last for about three years, roads with plastic as an add-on aggregate have a longevity of double duration.
In addition, polymerised roads are turning out to be popular solution to tackle the plastic menace and find ecologically sound solutions. This would also go a long way in reducing the carbon footprint.