USING PLASTIC BRICKS FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION

USING PLASTIC BRICKS FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION 

The last I checked, using bricks for building roads has not gone out of style. As a matter of fact, it has quietly come back into style—mainly because of environmental reasons. We usually think of bricks as something we see in old European streets or historical plazas, but they’re more than just “heritage” pieces. Bricks—especially if they are made from recycled plastics—might just be part of the solution to our local road woes.

Firstly, bricks are good for roads and pavements because they let the earth breathe. Those tiny cracks between the bricks allow water to seep through, instead of flooding the surface. This simple fact is often ignored when we cover everything with concrete and asphalt, which trap heat, cause runoff, and worsen urban flooding. Isn’t it ironic that what is considered an “old” material could be more climate-adaptive than the modern ones we now depend on?

Secondly, used plastics can now be recycled into bricks. This gives us a two-in-one solution: we reduce plastic waste while creating useful materials for road and pavement construction. In Cebu, for instance, experiments with plastic pavers are already showing promise. To me, this is not only good for the environment—it is also good for the economy. Instead of plastics ending up in our rivers and seas, they could be repurposed into infrastructure that communities need.

Now, let me be clear. I am not talking about EDSA or the North Luzon Expressway. I am talking about minor roads, side roads, and pathways that are not subjected to heavy truckloads. More importantly, I am talking about “farm-to-market” roads. For decades now, farmers have been promised these roads so they can bring their produce to market more efficiently. And for decades, these roads have remained mostly promises. What if farmers could build them themselves—using recycled plastic bricks?

This idea is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Farmers could form cooperatives, if they have not already done so, and set up simple extruders to produce plastic bricks. The technology is not complicated, and the raw materials—waste plastics—are in abundant supply. Imagine turning a problem (plastic waste) into a solution (farm-to-market roads).

Some cooperatives could even take it a step further: build their own toll roads to sustain the costs of construction and maintenance. Why not? If private corporations can do it for expressways, why can’t farmers’ cooperatives do the same on a smaller scale for their own benefit? The revenues could go back into maintaining the roads or even expanding them.

Does anyone know of a cooperative that might want to try this idea? If not, perhaps an LGU could step in to pilot it. Local governments are constantly grappling with two issues: waste management and lack of infrastructure. Here’s an approach that could address both at once. By investing in small-scale facilities that produce plastic bricks, LGUs could convert a liability into an asset.

Let’s be realistic, though. Plastic bricks may not be the best choice for heavy traffic or major highways. Laying bricks is more labor-intensive and requires more time compared to pouring asphalt. Still, for barangay roads, eco-village walkways, or even school grounds, plastic bricks are not only acceptable—they are practical. They are modular, easy to repair (you just replace the damaged brick), and visually appealing compared to plain concrete.

We already have precedents in the Philippines. Green Antz Builders, a social enterprise, has been producing “EcoBricks” made from shredded plastic sachets mixed with cement. Their products are five times stronger than traditional hollow blocks, with added insulation benefits. These EcoBricks are already used in schools, daycare centers, and barangay facilities. Why not extend this innovation to road pavements?

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has gone a step further by approving the use of plastic waste in asphalt mixes. This is a big deal because it makes plastic waste part of the national road network standard. But again, I return to my earlier point: not all roads have to be highways. Barangay and farm roads deserve their own innovations.

In the end, the question is simple: will we continue to wait for big-ticket infrastructure projects that may never come, or will communities empower themselves to build their own solutions? Plastic bricks may not pave all our problems away, but they could pave enough pathways to make a real difference—especially for our farmers who have waited too long.

Yes, brick roads are still acceptable. And in the right context, they may even be the most forward-looking option we have.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

12-10-2025