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We’ve already seen recyclable plastics enjoy new lives as stools, clothes and oil. Now the City of Vancouver has created a plastic-based asphalt which it is trialling for paved roads in the Canadian metropolis. The local authority has gathered ‘blue box’ plastics such as used water bottles, milk cartons and yoghurt pots, which are ground up and turned into a wax-like substance ready to be mixed with asphalt. When the material is warmed, it acts as an adhesive to bind the asphalt together. Although reports state that the plastic – which constitutes one percent of the total asphalt mix – will be three times more expensive than currently-used methods, the process involves 20 percent less fuel and will lead to savings in the long term. The mix is being trialled in several parts of the city and has so far proved as durable as traditional asphalt. Governments – could this be a worthwhile eco-friendly investment for cities in your part of the world? Spotted by: Katherine Noyes