Baguio Bike Lanes With Recyclable Materials Being Brokered With SMC

December 27, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (December 27, 2020) — City officials has urged Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong to look into the possibility of entering into a partnership with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) for road repairs and building bike lanes using asphalt made from recycled post-consumer plastic.

Under Resolution no. 643, series of 2020 signed by Mayor Magalong, local legislators stated that the city will definitely benefit from the various programs on repairs of roads and put up of bike lanes through a sustainable partnership with SMC for the use of post-consumer plastic asphalt as materials for road repairs and for building the proposed bike lanes along feasible road lines.

The council recognize SMC’s tact to build bicycle lanes out of post-consumer plastic waste in partnership with cities and provinces that intend to embrace the aforesaid endeavor to help in the proper disposal of non-biodegradable waste materials.

Further, the company is looking to work with technology partners and local governments in the different parts of the country that are willing to put up dedicated bike lanes to accommodate cyclists whose numbers have drastically risen due to the prevailing implementation of various levels of community quarantine and transportation restrictions brought about by the Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 global pandemic.

The Baguio City council said the local government has adopted a policy of revitalizing the environment where the city will take the lead in efforts to identify environmental protection, preservation, conservation and replenishment of dwindling resources aside from creating and execute long-term solutions that will surely provide the most appropriate solid and liquid waste management at the least possible expense.

SMC built and started testing the country’s first asphalt road made with post-consumer plastic waste in Gen. Trias, Cavite last year where it was able to maximize the use of over 180,000 sachets and plastic bags for asphalt that was laid on a 1,500-square meter pilot test site.

Moreover, the road used more than 900 kilos of recycled plastic which was used as a binder with bitumen to produce the asphalt that was used for the overplay where the mix was made in partnership with Global Imperials Science Company Dow.

Based on independent laboratory testing, the material exceeded the standards set by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH as the said move aims to effectively and efficiently address the environmental issues being raised on plastic waste.

Once that the partnership with SMC will be concretized, the city will be able to pilot test the use of the material that will be used by government agencies in repairs on roads and the placement of asphalt overlays in identified road networks around the city to ascertain its feasibility in highly elevated areas compared to its successful pilot test in lowland pavements.

Artemio A. Dumlao