Texas Researchers Tested Recycled Plastic in Road Asphalt
The experimental asphalt mixture incorporates processed plastic to boost heat resistance on public roads.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Materials Science
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Researchers at the University of Texas in Arlington have developed and field-tested an asphalt method that replaces up to 10% of traditional bitumen with recycled plastic. The team installed a one-mile test stretch in Rockwall, Texas, to evaluate the material's durability under extreme summer temperatures.
Why it matters
As extreme heat increasingly causes road surfaces to soften, buckle, and crack, this material shift could improve infrastructure resilience. Integrating plastic waste into paving mixtures offers a strategy to address both rising temperatures and road maintenance demands.
The process replaces 8% to 10% of bitumen, the petroleum-based binder in asphalt, with shredded plastic. This composition aims to enhance flexibility in temperatures reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
The players
University of Texas in Arlington
A public research university focused on engineering and infrastructure materials development.
The details
The method involves cleaning and shredding recycled plastic, which is then integrated into the asphalt at high temperatures. During this process, the melted plastic bonds with the bitumen to form a more heat-resistant composite. This change in the binder composition is intended to prevent the softening and mechanical failure typically seen in conventional roads during high-heat events.
Timeline
2023: Extreme heat across Texas caused significant buckling and cracking of conventional road surfaces.
The Tech Race
This project seeks to address the performance limitations of traditional bitumen in high-temperature environments. It sits within a growing field of materials research aimed at adapting infrastructure to withstand more frequent extreme weather patterns.
The technology is currently at the testing stage, meaning its adoption on public thoroughfares remains subject to further performance validation. Residents in areas like Rockwall may see these experimental stretches as engineers monitor how the material holds up to heavy traffic and heat.
The takeaway
The addition of recycled plastic may offer a viable path to more durable, heat-resistant road infrastructure. Watch for future performance benchmarks from the Rockwall test site to see if the material significantly reduces pavement degradation under heavy traffic loads.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in sustainable infrastructure on the Materials Science page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BGR.
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