Researchers in Hawaii are pioneering a method to recycle the islands鈥� derelict fishing nets and residential plastic trash into asphalt roads. Early demonstrations show that these recycled materials may provide a viable end-of-life fate for the region鈥檚 garbage. Jeremy Axworthy, a researcher at the Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR) at Hawai驶i Pacific University, will present the team鈥檚 results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Spring 2026 is being held March 22-26; it features nearly 11,000 presentations on a range of science topics.
鈥淭his work investigates whether it鈥檚 responsible to use recycled plastics in Hawaii鈥檚 roads,鈥� shares Axworthy. 鈥淏y reusing plastic waste that is already in Hawaii, we can reduce the environmental and economic impacts of transporting waste plastics from the islands, incinerating it or dumping it in Hawaii鈥檚 overflowing landfills.鈥�
Since 2020, Hawaii鈥檚 roads have predominantly been paved with polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) to increase pavement strength and durability. Compared to standard asphalt pavement, PMA pavement is more elastic and more resistant to cracking, rutting and water damage 鈥� qualities that are especially important for the state鈥檚 tropical climate. PMA pavement is made by first melting pellets of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS; a type of copolymer) into a sticky, petroleum-based asphalt binder. Then, the PMA binder is tumbled with heated aggregates (rocks and sand) in a mixing drum, causing the PMA binder to fully coat the aggregates.
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Author: American Chemical Society, Newswise
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