Plastic waste and infrastructure durability are two growing challenges facing communities around the world. In Canada, only about 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled, and difficult-to-process materials such as agricultural plastics often end up in landfill. At the same time, roads in cold climates face significant wear from extreme temperature fluctuations, leading to cracks, potholes, and frequent repairs.
Dow Canada is addressing both challenges through an innovative paving solution that incorporates agricultural plastic waste into polymer-modified asphalt. Using advanced materials science, the process chemically bonds hard-to-recycle plastics with asphalt binders to create stronger, more resilient pavement that performs well in Alberta’s extreme temperature conditions.
The technology was first deployed in 2024 at Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan site, diverting approximately 13,000 kilograms of agricultural plastic waste, equivalent to about 2.4 million grocery bags, into 12,000 square metres of roadway. By transforming waste into durable infrastructure, the project demonstrates a practical pathway for circularity and more resilient roads across Alberta.
