Researchers at Aston University in the UK have developed a new procedure to convert mixed domestic organic waste into a surfacing material for roads and pavements.

The new process was developed by academicians of the university’s European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) and the Aston Institute of Materials Research (AIMR). It uses decomposed food, paper and plastic to create a product similar to bitumen, which is commonly used in road surfacing works.

If adopted, the bio-bitumen material is expected to become a cheaper and greener alternative compared to current road surfacing components, which are procured by extracting crude oil.

Bio-bitumen is prepared using a process called pyrolysis, where organic waste is heated to around 500°C in a reactor under the absence of oxygen.

“The adoption of bio-bitumen is also expected to reduce the usage of asphalt, which is a key source of carbon emissions during road construction.”

The process decomposes the materials into substances that are used in the production of bio-fuels.

Scientists were able to change the characteristics of the products to create a substance with qualities similar to bitumen by altering processing parameters such as temperature, processing time and product collection strategy.

It is claimed that the new material will utilise four times more ‘waste fraction’ compared to other plastic road projects currently being tested by multiple UK councils.

The adoption of bio-bitumen is also expected to reduce the usage of asphalt, which is a key source of carbon emissions during road construction.

EBRI researcher in biomass pyrolysis and study author Dr Yang Yang said: “If the product is largely produced and widely applied, we would have a better way to convert our waste, including non-biodegradable plastic waste, into a high-value construction material, instead of current disposal practices such as landfill and incineration, both of which are harmful to the environment.”

Further research and funding of the new material must be carried out in order to achieve the material’s commercialisation at a large scale.