An Exploration of the Feasibility of Using Plastic Waste for Sustainable Road Construction in Nigeria: A Qualitative Approach

Every country, both developed and developing, has problems with waste management, specifically plastic waste. Plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and can decompose between 100 to 500 years. The negative impact of plastic waste is felt by the environment and all forms of living things, either on the land, in the air, or underwater, because of the chemical composition of plastic and its poor management. Nigeria, as a developing country, is faced with a poor and inadequate road network with about 200,000km road network and only 50,000km paved; therefore, there is a need to make more roads that are environmentally friendly, socially comfortable and accessible, and economically feasible. Thus, this research identifies and evaluates the factors that could promote or hinder the adoption of plastic waste for road construction. Highway construction professionals in Nigeria were interviewed and the data analysed thematically. The findings showed that awareness, government policy, funding, technical know-how, political will, equipment, standardised methodology, practical-knowledge gap and a sample trial hinder the adoption of plastic waste for road construction in Nigeria. However, the enables include global warning concerns, government policies and environmental awareness. Based on this research, it is evident that raising awareness and training amongst stakeholders, the balance between hands-on and classroom training, pilot construction, funding, and government policy is important for adopting plastic waste for road construction.