By replacing part of the traditional bitumen usually found in asphalt with plastic waste Willmott Dixon has stopped the equivalent of 150,000 single use plastic bags from being incinerated or going into landfill.

Residents at Bristol City Council’s Ashton Rise development will drive on some of the UK’s ‘greenest’ roads when they move in next year.

Waste management company ETM collects any non-recyclable plastic from the site before plastic road company MacRebur processes it so the resulting asphalt can be laid back at the development by Gworks Surfacing.

Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the South West, said: “This innovation is also complemented by low-carbon heating which is also being installed at the site, making Ashton Rise a highly sustainable development with individual homes making lifetime carbon savings of 23.5kg.

“By showcasing these innovative solutions to support carbon waste reduction, we hope to inspire other developers.”

Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: “This innovative approach will set Ashton Rise as the benchmark for new, environmentally friendly residential developments as residents will drive on some of the greenest tarmac in the country.

“It’s the introduction of innovations like this that will help drive us forward towards achieving our environmental goals as set out in the One City Plan.”

Toby McCartney from MacRebur added: ‘‘Sustainability is a key part of the Ashton Rise development so it’s fantastic to see our technology being used here to repurpose plastic which would otherwise have gone to incineration or landfill for the roads and footpaths across the site.’’