PlasticRoad at Schiphol
Schiphol airport has a world first having a road entirely made of recycled plastic. The so-called PlasticRoad is made from waste from the terminal. The construction is an initiative of VolkerWessels Infra Schiphol, consisting of KWS and VolkerRail. The project is part of a test that should show whether the recycled road is a useful alternative to standard asphalt roads in the future and thus contributes to a more sustainable infrastructure at the airport.
According to VolkerWessels, PlasticRoad has important advantages over traditional asphalt pavement. PlasticRoad collects the rainwater, filters it and gradually lowers it into the ground. This leads to better and natural water management, provides a water buffer in the event of heavy traffic and contributes to an improved groundwater level. A filter system also captures dirt that comes from traffic, so that it does not end up in the verge. In addition, the road provides a second life for plastic waste at the airport, is easier to maintain, has a longer lifespan and is faster and simpler to realize, which contributes to the reduction of CO2, NOx and particulate emissions. According to VolkerWessels, the use of Plastic Road at these locations results in a reduction of 82 percent in CO2 emissions.
