The first plastic road was laid down in Jeffreys Bay five years ago and the latest update of the road indicates it lasts twice as long as traditional tar.
The Democratic Alliance-led Kouga Municipality proposed the concept in 2016, and it was approved in 2019.
The region faced a backlog of road repairs totalling more than R500 million, but the municipality lacked the money to address this issue through conventional methods.
The idea of using plastic waste as a substitute is both eco-friendly and financially feasible.
The plastic road uses a unique mixture of plastic waste, including plastic bags, which are melted down and integrated into the road’s asphalt.
Each kilometre can incorporate up to 1.8 million plastic bags.
Water is less likely to penetrate the plastic-infused asphalt, minimising the development of potholes.
By the end of 2023 the plastic road still appeared brand new, while a nearby tar road, built in the same year, was already showing signs of wear and tear.