Now, part of Jalan Jepun Jimbaran looks neatly paved. Uniquely, the paving is done using a plastic mixture.
The Head of Jimbaran Village, I Wayan Kardiyasa, said that the paving was a third-party contribution. It is a collaboration between Jimbaran Hijau, the ASEAN Center of Excellence on Smart City (ASECH), and PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk (Chandra Asri Group).
“This road connects Jimbaran with Pecatu,” he said, as reported by Warta Bali.
For the record, the paving is a National Showcase of Plastic Asphalt Roads in Bali. The 442 m² of asphalt was reportedly mixed with 120,000 plastic bags. In other words, the move has managed about 900 kg of plastic waste from landfills.
Bali was chosen as the location for this showcase because of its strategic location (international hub), many non-governmental organizations and communities, and reputation as the world’s best recreational destination. These factors can encourage increased adoption of this plastic asphalt innovation in Indonesia.
Moreover, this Jimbaran road is not just a local innovation but a hope for sustainable infrastructure worldwide. As a busy road that foreign tourists pass, it showcases the potential of plastic asphalt to a global audience. Bali’s selection is expected to inspire other regions in Indonesia and beyond, fostering a sense of optimism about the future of sustainable road construction.
The plastic asphalt showcase will be a Learning Center where policymakers from various regions can observe firsthand the use of low-value plastic waste, such as plastic bags, as an asphalt mixture.
In addition to infrastructure innovation, the plastic asphalt initiative also supports the Government’s ambition to reduce marine litter by 70 percent by 2025.
Supported by the Government
Crucially, the government is a staunch supporter of the plastic asphalt initiative. Yudha Handita Pandjiriawan, the Director of Road and BGovernmentneering at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, has expressed the government’s endorsement of this innovative approach to road construction.
The ministry hopes that the plastic-infused asphalt will continue and be imitated by other companies. So far, the Government has made innovations, but there is still a lot of plastic waste, requiring the collaboration of many parties.
