"I visited the inventor of the plastic tar road technology, Professor R. Vasudevan, at Thiagarajar College of Engineering in India from March 7 to 10," Deputy Assistant for Science and Technology Nani Hendiarti stated in a press statement here on Saturday.
In 2006, Thiagarajar College of Engineering received a patent on the technology of plastic tar road, because the formulation of the tar used plastic composition of 10-18 per liter of tar.
The estimated plastic used is 50 tons per kilometer of road, and it can be considered as an option for using plastic waste that cannot be recycled.
"The process is simple, and the plastic waste is melted in hot asphalt. The process uses all types of plastic waste that cannot be recycled. The process is economical, because it can save 6.5 percent of normal roads. The road will require simple maintenance and will have a positive impact on the environment for recycling technologies," she noted.
The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs through Presidential Decree Number 12 Year 2016 concerning the National Movement for Mental Revolution has been appointed by the president to become a coordinator for Indonesia Clean Movement.
Therefore, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan on various occasions warned about the dangers of plastic waste.
Moreover, Indonesia has the problem of plastic waste management where most of people burn plastic waste.
In fact, the burning of plastic waste will leave carcinogenic residues that are harmful to health.
The ministry will implement the technology in the near future.
The ministry will work with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Bandung Institute of Technology, and the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT).
This partnership is required to follow up the implementation of the plastic roads and technology transfer, including the implementation of demonstration projects.
Relevant regulations, waste data, cooperative agreements, and memorandum of understanding will involve the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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