Hawaii Tests Asphalt Made with Recycled Plastics and Fishing Nets for Shedding

Hawaii tests asphalt made with recycled plastics and fishing nets for shedding

Hawaii has a plastic problem. The island state faces economic and logistical challenges in recycling plastic waste, including marine debris that lingers in its ocean waters. Researchers in Hawaii are pioneering a method to recycle the islands' derelict fishing nets and residential plastic trash into asphalt roads. Early demonstrations show that these recycled materials may provide a viable end-of-life fate for the region's garbage.

Fishing nets and recycled plastic trash are being paved into Hawaii’s roads

Sand, rock, and melted plastic now sit beneath the tires on a quiet residential street in Oahu. For nearly a year, cars have rolled over an experiment that could reshape how Hawaii deals with its mounting plastic waste. The test road looks ordinary. What sets it apart is what holds it together. Researchers at the Center for Marine Debris Research at Hawaiʻi Pacific University have been working with the Hawaii Department of Transportation to turn…

Paving Hawaiian Roads with Recycled Plastics and Abandoned Fishing Nets

Researchers in Hawaii are pioneering a method to recycle the islands’ derelict fishing nets and plastic trash into asphalt roads. Demonstrations show that adding recycled material could lead to less-polluted oceans. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2026.

Transforming Hawaiian Roads: Innovative Pavement Using Recycled Plastics

Hawaii, an island paradise renowned for its natural beauty, is now confronting a formidable environmental challenge: its burgeoning plastic waste crisis. The accumulation of plastic debris, especially marine litter such as derelict fishing nets, threatens not only the islands’ ecosystems but also their economic stability and community health. Addressing this urgent issue, a team of researchers from the Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR) at…