The Public Works Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh on June 02, 2026, issued the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for flawless working of the use of plastic material in Bituminous Roads in the State.
The following has been stated:
• Under the SOP, Public Works Department (PWD) divisions will annually communicate their requirement of clean waste plastic to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), which will collect, segregate, clean, and process suitable plastic waste. Joint inspections by PWD and ULB officials will verify the quality and quantity of collected plastic, while digital records and reporting mechanisms will be maintained for transparency and environmental monitoring by the State Department of Environment, Science, Technology & Climate Change and the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board.
• Only specified flexible plastic waste, such as carry bags, sacks, milk pouches, and cosmetics/detergent containers, may be used, while rigid plastics and black-coloured recycled plastic films are prohibited. The plastic shall be cleaned, contain less than 1% impurities, and be shredded to prescribed sizes before being supplied to PWD. Executive Engineers of HPPWD will be responsible for lifting, documenting, transferring, and utilizing the shredded plastic in road construction.
• The SOP mandates that shredded plastic be used in surface bituminous courses as per IRC: SP 98-2020, with plastic added at 8% of the weight of bitumen in the mix. PWD divisions shall submit monthly reports on plastic waste utilized and roads constructed using such material. The SOP also requires training of ULB and PWD personnel and the development of a training module covering environmental safeguards, segregation standards, and safe handling of plastic waste.
[Notification no. - PWD-C (E-270859)]
