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Paving the Way for Green Asphalt

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Teri Greene
Teri Greene

Dr. Shenghua Wu, top left, associate professor of civil, coastal, and environmental engineering, along with graduate student Ashish Gautam, center, and Ph.D student Abeeb Oyelere are researching the use of recycled microplastics to fortify roads when mixed with reclaimed asphalt. data-lightbox='featured'
Dr. Shenghua Wu, top left, associate professor of civil, coastal, and environmental engineering, along with graduate student Ashish Gautam, center, and Ph.D student Abeeb Oyelere are researching the use of recycled microplastics to fortify roads when mixed with reclaimed asphalt.

Sustainability starts from the ground up, and sometimes, that ground is paved. A leader in sustainability, Dr. Shenghua Wu, an associate professor of civil, coastal and environmental engineering, is rethinking roads by developing what could be called green asphalt.

His idea: Reuse waste plastics in paving material to make stronger, longer-lasting roads while keeping trash out of landfills and waterways. Wu and his team are testing various plastics to determine whether they can enhance the material without compromising its quality or durability.

“The goal is to create a more sustainable, circular economy where waste materials are put to good use,” says Wu, whose researchers have already paved a former dirt road in Milton, Florida, with the recycled asphalt.

One test mix uses plastics in pothole repair. This work is part of a broader initiative at South, the Gulf Coast Center for Addressing Micro- plastic Pollution, which aims to reduce plastic pollution in the region.

Crush and Mix

Crush and Mix

The microplastics are ground into pellets and mixed with a binder and reclaimed asphalt — the top layer of old asphalt
crushed into tiny fragments.

Churn it Up

Churn it Up

The microplastic, reclaimed asphalt and binder are churned into one substance.

Apply Pressure

Apply Pressure

The new substance is put to the test. Pressure is increased until the new asphalt cracks, determining its strength.

 

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