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Are there any green alternatives to asphalt in development? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by falkerie71@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Asphalt used on road surfaces are byproducts from fossil fuel. With the ultimate goal of eliminating the use of fossil fuel to combat climate change, are there any good alternatives for road surfaces? I don't think I've ever heard of a viable replacement of asphalt in the works, or even a plan to replace it in any environmental discussions before. At least, not enough for me to notice.

Extented question would be: what are some products derived from fossil fuel that are used in everyday life, but still lack viable alternatives you don't see enough discussions about?

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[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Then we’ve got big chunks of plastic everywhere.

Trouble is that kind of gradual wear pretty much guarantees the material is coming off in tiny chunks that are basically dust.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hmm. Usually when I see roads break, it's more of a disintegration into chunks situation. I really though I watched a video where they vacuumed up dust from alongside a road.

If microplastics are going to be made, that is kind of an issue. Maybe it's still worth it, or maybe we have to pick an alternative. I guess worst case we could just go to all gravel roads, and it would be slow but you would get there.

[–] Rouxibeau@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a great solution actually, you should de-emphasize cars and put in more trains and infrastructure for local individualized personal vehicles like bikes, ebikes, electric scooters, and even pedestrians.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Aren't bike paths usually asphalt too? They definitely are where I live.

Rail would work I guess, and mass transit is better than personal cars for any number of reasons, but we'd have to put in a lot of rail and abandon all the significant road infrastructure built up. I've mostly stanned buses in the past for that reason.

[–] Rouxibeau@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

They can be anything, even asphalt. Concrete, gravel, dirt.

Bikes won't wear asphalt or anything else as fast as a high speed multi ton vehicle will though.