Walkers using a footbridge in Wistaston are treading on plastic – as it’s made of recycled bottles!
Cheshire East Council commissioned the bridge over Wistaston Brook at Joey the Swan as an eco-friendly project.
Each square metre of new replacement decking contains a foam infill made from more than 4,500 plastic bottles.
It was produced by specialist surfacing and structures manufacturer Polydeck, using a fully-recyclable composite ‘green’ foam material produced by their supplier in Oldham.
The process and end product uses hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic bottles, which are transformed into an inner-core foam, which is used in a wide range of industrial applications.
Cllr Brian Roberts, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways and waste, said: “The council is fully committed to using recycled materials wherever we can provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
“The work that has been carried out on the footbridge in Wistaston has completely transformed its appearance, as the old timber decking was in a poor state of repair and in need of restoration.
“The council will be looking at other opportunities to apply recycled materials and the latest project to use this material will be the footbridge across the Silk Road, in Macclesfield, which is about to undergo extensive maintenance work.”
Chris Spooner, managing director of Polydeck, said: “This is a sustainable and enterprising application for recycled single-use plastic bottles.
“We are pleased to be part of the process for addressing one of the biggest problems facing the planet today.
“Cheshire East Council is one of a growing number of end-users who are recognising the value of utilising an eco-product of this type in such a practical way.”
Ian McLauchlan, bridges and structures manager for Cheshire East Council’s highways team, said: “This is a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing material, which is non-slip, doesn’t rot like timber and does not gather moss or weeds.
“Maintenance is minimal, saving money for the council and the material is ideal for use in difficult to access, rural locations.”
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