Exclusive: Transport Scotland and 'plastic roads' firm MacRebur put 'agreements' on the table

16/07/2019 | DOMINIC BROWNE

A meeting between MacRebur - 'the plastic roads company' - Transport Scotland and transport officers from SCOTS has established a set of 'agreements' around recycled plastic waste material in roads, its media presentation and testing.

Highways has seen minutes from the meeting, which took place in March, which reveal MacRebur pledged to review its media work to improve the factual content and avoid or retract anything that is potentially misleading.  

MacRebur confirmed that plastic bottles and bags with a melting point higher than 170C are not suitable for its process. 

Highways spoke to MacRebur's technical director Gordon Reid about the minutes and he stated that while the company had not retracted anything he accepted there had been misinterpretations of its product in the media.  

He said MacRebur research confirmed that 'around 30% of all plastics that goes into household waste have the right polymer that we can use' - clarifying that not all plastic bottles and bags can be used for the process as sometimes might be implied by media reports. 

He also said that references to his MacRebur's plastic additive making the road 'stronger' were incorrect and claimed these were the result of media misinterpretation. 

'The media has seen the word stiffness and interpreted it as stronger. We are not saying the roads will be stronger but we will say they will be less likely to fail. There will be an improvement in fatigue making the road less likely to fail under deformation such as rutting or cracking.'  

However he added that the firm's product had been tested in accredited, independent laboratories and told Highways the firm had completed some in situ testing using the Nottingham Asphalt Tester method, which revealed stiffness was actually about the same but were 'improvements in fatigue'. 

He said he was preparing to send the results to Transport Scotland but could not confirm what they were. He pledged that the firm was happy to carry out any industry testing required.

For commercial reasons he declined the state what the polymer was, which has been added in small amounts to around 200,000 tonnes of highway asphalt so far.

The concept of using recycled plastic in roads caught the imagination of the media and public sector bodies when it first came to prominence several years ago.

Sites in Cumbria among others have been using the product from some years now and MacRebur hope it could replace some 0.3% of asphalt (6% of bitumen in the mix) with recycled plastic.

However, senior figures in the industry have raised concerns about whether the technology is properly tested.

Concerns were also raised around whether asphalt containing plastic could be recycled. MacRebur has pledged that asphalt containing its products can be recycled 'under the same unique waste number for end of life as normal Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement'. This will be verified by Transport Scotland, the meeting minutes state.

It was also agreed that Transport Scotland and MacRebur would discuss the extent and content of technical testing required around the in situ areas laid over two years ago - such as in Cumbria. An expert from WSP has been lined up to support this process.

It was agree that MacRebur will forward test results from the Cumbria trial projects over the next two years and will arrange testing and reporting of existing trial areas already laid in Dumfries and Ayrshire.

The results will be shared among all other road authorities once complete, thus avoiding the need for further trialling in other local authority areas.

SCOTS also plans to seek funding from the Scottish Roads Research Board for research focussed on more generic exploration of opportunities and cost benefits of using recycled plastic and other materials in road construction.

Pictures shows one of the sites in Cumbria where the MacRebur's solution has been laid.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Mobile Street Scene Operative

£24,796 - £25,989 per annum
We are currently looking for a Mobile Cleansing Operative to join our Northallerton team. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bolton Council

Asset Senior Maintenance Engineer (CDC)

Grade 10, £47,154 – £51,235
Do you have a positive approach to work and enjoy the challenge of a busy role? Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Structures Engineer

£40,777-£45,091
We are seeking to recruit a Highway Structures Engineer - Asset Management Graded 11. The post holder will be responsible for undertaking the workloa Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Arboricultural Consultant

£36168.0000 - £42551.0000 per annum
Arboricultural ConsultantPermanentFull Time, 37 hours per week£36,168 to £42,551 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Flood Risk Engineer - Epping Forest District Council

£40.0000 - £45.0000 per hour
Flood Risk Engineer Epping, EssexFull-Time, Temporary 37 Hours per Week 3 Months Contract* £40-£45 per hour, Umbrella Closing Date
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Senior Engineer

Starting Salary from £43,545 based on skills and
Job TitleSenior Engineer (x2 v... Frogmore Complex, Wandsworth, London,
Recruiter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Electrical Design Engineer

Grade 9 £35,412 to £39,152 - Grade 10 £38,220 to £41,771 - Grade 11 £40,777 to £45,091 - Grade 12 £44,075 to £48,226 p.a.
The Construction Consultancy Services (CCS) team provide client-side construction consultancy services across a range of professional disciplines to d Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Street Lighting Electrician CDC

Grade 8, £33,708 - £37,399
Highways Operations is a growing service area within the Place directorate. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2311e

£26,403 - £26,824
This is a predominantly office-based role with some site visits required. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Lawyer Planning and Highways - WMF2312e

£56,883 - £59,198
To be a success in our Legal Team you will have experience as a Planning and Highways Lawyer Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Street Cleansing Operative

£26,403.00 - £28,142.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
An opportunity exists in the Council's Street Scene Services for a Street Cleansing Operative Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Civil Engineering Technician (HDM)

Grade 4 - Grade 6
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through Highways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice

£28,729.00 per annum (Subject to review)
As part of your apprenticeship, you will be enrolled onto a Lead Traffic Management operative course Staffordshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice

£28,729.00 per annum (Subject to review)
As part of your apprenticeship, you will be enrolled onto a Lead Traffic Management Operative level 2 apprenticeship Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice

£28,729 (Subject to review)
As part of your apprenticeship, you will be enrolled onto a Lead Traffic Management Operative level 2 apprenticeship Rothersthorpe, Northampton
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Design Services

£77,536 - £83,366
You will lead the delivery of a high-performing Technical Services Partnership (TSP). Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice

£28,729.00 per annum (Subject to review)
As part of your apprenticeship, you will be enrolled onto a Lead Traffic Management Operative level 2 apprenticeship Ecclesfield, Sheffield
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice

£28,729.00 per annum (Subject to review)
As part of your apprenticeship, you will be enrolled onto a Lead Traffic Management Operative level 2 apprenticeship. Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice

£28,729.00 per annum (Subject to review)
As part of your apprenticeship, you will be enrolled onto a Lead Traffic Management Operative level 2 apprenticeship Knottingley, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Amey
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW