Kerala is putting discarded plastic to practical use by converting it into material for road construction, helping tackle waste while supporting infrastructure development across the state.
According to data from Clean Kerala Company, as cited by Mathrubhumi , 4,447.93 metric tonnes of shredded plastic has been produced since the programme began. The recycled material has been used in projects covering nearly 7,249 km of roads.
Kerala turns plastic waste into roads
The initiative involves collecting plastic waste, processing and cleaning it, and then shredding it into material that can be incorporated into road construction.
The method, known as plastic-mixed road construction, provides an alternative use for non-biodegradable plastic waste while reducing the quantity of discarded material that ends up in landfills or the wider environment.
Clean Kerala Company began producing shredded plastic in 2016 as part of efforts to establish a more organised system for plastic waste management.
PWD among biggest users of recycled plastic
Government agencies and local bodies have emerged as major users of the processed plastic.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has used 2,132.48 metric tonnes of shredded plastic for road projects, making it the largest user among government agencies. Local self-government institutions accounted for another 2,028.15 metric tonnes.
A further 17.08 metric tonnes of shredded plastic was used for National Highway construction works.
Plastic waste collection network supports programme
The programme relies on a network of local bodies and waste-management units to collect and process discarded plastic.
The collection system includes local self-government institutions, Haritha Karma Sena units, Resource Recovery Facilities (RRFs) and Material Collection Facilities (MCFs).
Plastic gathered through this network is segregated and processed before being shredded and supplied for infrastructure projects.
Plastic production crossed 1,000 tonnes in 2020
The programme's output has varied from year to year, with production reaching one of its highest annual levels in 2020-21.
According to the available data, shredded plastic production stood at 1,000 metric tonnes in 2020, with the material used for construction of around 1,710.45 km of roads.
Production stood at 23.82 metric tonnes in 2016 and rose to 174.78 metric tonnes in 2017 and 439.19 metric tonnes in 2018. It increased further to 665.59 metric tonnes in 2019.
In subsequent years, production was recorded at 739.77 metric tonnes in 2021, 371 metric tonnes in 2022, 200.87 metric tonnes in 2023, 350.99 metric tonnes in 2024 and 466.93 metric tonnes in 2025. The 2026 figure stands at 14.99 metric tonnes for the latest available period.
Kerala's recycled plastic road data
| Year | Plastic produced (MT) | Roads constructed (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 23.82 | 51.89 |
| 2017 | 174.78 | 358.35 |
| 2018 | 439.19 | 495.74 |
| 2019 | 665.59 | 1,073.75 |
| 2020 | 1,000 | 1,710.45 |
| 2021 | 739.77 | 1,277.13 |
| 2022 | 371 | 514.35 |
| 2023 | 200.87 | 339.54 |
| 2024 | 350.99 | 652.77 |
| 2025 | 466.93 | 745.98 |
| 2026* | 14.99 | 29.36 |
*2026-27 figures are for the latest available period.
Turning plastic waste into infrastructure
The initiative represents an effort to give discarded plastic a productive second use while reducing the burden of non-biodegradable waste.
By linking waste collection with road construction, Kerala's programme combines plastic waste management with infrastructure development, allowing material that could otherwise remain a long-term environmental concern to be processed and reused.
Inputs from PTI
