Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to encourage the use of (a) recycled plastic materials and (b) other innovative and durable techniques for road repairs.

The use of recycled plastic materials as a component in road surfacing is not widespread. Officials at the Department for Transport are, however, aware that it has been used in a small proportion of England’s strategic road network for high friction surfacing materials, and on one short stretch of public road in England.

Officials from the Department have been in discussion with Cumbria County Council, which is trialling the use of recycled plastic materials in their road resurfacing, and with the company that supplies the material. They will continue to monitor the situation and any outcomes, positive or negative, from the trial currently underway.

The Department is also encouraging local highway authorities to trial new innovations and technology to help repair the roads for which they are responsible. The Department recently announced that it is working in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Environment, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) on future-proofing the local road network through the use of smart infrastructure and new materials.