New Bridge in Wales Made from Recycled Plastic Waste
November 2nd, 2011 by 
European engineers have completed a 90-foot bridge over the River Tweed in Wales that is made completely from recycled plastic, the first thermoplastic bridge to be built outside the U.S.
The bridge, which consists of 50 tons of recycled high-density polyethylene materials that would have otherwise been buried in landfills, is able to support vehicles as heavy as 44 tons. Because it is made of plastic, it will never rot or rust, and will not require chemical treatment, painting, or regular maintenance, according to Vertech Composites, the UK-based firm that designed and built the bridge.
And with an expected lifespan of about 50 years, that would yield a savings of $300 per-square-foot during its lifecycle compared with bridges made of standard building materials, the firm says.
In completing the project, Vertech engineers worked with several groups, including the Cardiff University School of Engineering and Rutgers University’s Advanced Polymer Center, that also helped construct a thermoplastic composite bridge at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.
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Who wouldn’t want to save money and help the Earth at the same time? Recycling is a universal solution that benefits both man and the environment.