‘Model Road made from Plastic Waste’, a research project led by CMU Faculty of Engineering’s Associate Professor Dr. Peerapong Chitsangiam, was initiated to protect the environment and increase the value of plastic waste. One of CMU’s priorities is waste sorting as a crucial starting point of waste management, which is an important step towards becoming a model smart city that produces zero waste. The latest development of this project is the MoU between CMU and Chiang Mai Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) on the use of plastic container waste as a mixture in asphalt concrete.
The results were promising — the model road was up to the standards in terms of strength and safety set by the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads and there were no environmental impacts. Seeing the opportunity for application in a wider scope to address social and environmental issues, the PAO collaborated with the university to capitalise on the success by further studying the use of plastic container waste as a mixture in asphalt concrete for road construction through lab and real-world experiments in the PAO’s area. If successful, it would contribute greatly to Thailand’s efforts in plastic and waste management following the BCG model.
Professor Dr. Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, the CMU President, stated that it was a great honour that their efforts had been recognised by the PAO and that the university would be willing to collaborate and provide support in all aspects to strengthen the academic partnership between the two parties.
Plastic waste has become more and more concerning as it has direct and indirect impacts on the environment and humans. Thus, there needs to be a management system that does not have such consequences. The concept of zero waste according to the BCG model will help reduce leftover waste in the environment and add value to used plastics. It will also allow for proper use of resources and garbage segregation, as well as adhering to the government’s BCG policy.
CMU’s commitment to SDGs, adopted as the university’s strategies, is a testament to its commitment to becoming a leading university with social responsibility whose academic contribution has concrete impacts on the community, national and global scales.