Indonesia’s Ministry of Home Affairs has expressed support for incorporating plastic waste into asphalt mixtures to enhance the development of national road infrastructure. This proposal has received positive responses from various sectors, including academics at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).
Dr. Muslim Mahardika, a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), welcomed the initiative as a long-term solution to address plastic waste, particularly plastic bags, which are notoriously difficult to recycle.
“Plastic bags are derived from petroleum, as is asphalt, which is a by-product of oil refining. Therefore, combining them with the right proportion makes sense. A 6% plastic-to-asphalt ratio has proven effective and can significantly reduce the volume of plastic waste,” said Dr. Mahardika in a media interview on Wednesday (Jul. 16).
He explained, since 2019, he and his team at UGM have been developing a plastic shredding machine designed for ease of use by the general public. The technology is intentionally kept simple and free of complex features to ensure accessibility.
Dr. Mahardika cited an example in Kulon Progo. The implementation of this machine, made possible through a collaborative grant with PT Barata Indonesia, has enabled communities to collect plastic bags, shred them, and send the material to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing for use as an asphalt mixture.
Challenges remain, particularly in the form of contaminants such as gravel or nails that may still adhere to non-bag plastic waste, posing a risk to the shredding equipment. However, the expert emphasized that the overall environmental impact is far more favorable than allowing plastic waste to pollute marine ecosystems.
“Unused plastic bags pose greater harm to the ecosystem. Incorporating them into asphalt is a more environmentally responsible option,” he noted.
Dr. Mahardika added, if the program is expanded, plastic waste could even become a valuable commodity due to the high demand for asphalt in infrastructure projects.
He also highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration to ensure the program’s sustainability. According to him, universities can contribute through innovation, industries through implementation, local governments through regulations and policies, and communities through sorting, collecting, and benefiting from incentives offered by plastic waste banks.
Author: Ika Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Illustration: Freepik
Post-editor: Bendina M.