Kansas City: Turning Trash into Roads

Imagine if the trash in your city could be turned into something useful, like roads! That's exactly what Olivia English, a Kansas City woman, had in mind. Her journey began with a simple question: Where does all the litter go? She discovered that most of it ends up in landfills, which are filling up fast. So, she came up with a clever idea – use the non-biodegradable stuff, like plastic and old tires, to pave roads. Olivia teamed up with Rody Taylor, who runs a facility that deals with hard-to-recycle items. He agreed that diverting materials from landfills is a great idea. Next, she met Bill Buttlar, a scientist at the University of Missouri, who was excited about her sustainable project. The goal was to use local waste to build local roads.

Getting approval wasn't easy. The industry is cautious about new ideas. But Olivia convinced Kansas City Public Works Manager Brian Platt to give it a shot. She also found an ally in Andrew Fahey of J-M Fahey Construction. Together, they tested the idea on three roads in the 113th and State Line area. The results? The roads look great and seem to be holding up well. The new paving process uses less rock and asphalt, which is better for the environment. The team is still monitoring the roads for any issues, but so far, so good. Olivia is proud of her achievement and hopes to make her city and planet a better place.

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