The exponential growth of plastic production and consumption over the past seven decades has generated one of the most complex and persistent environmental challenges of the modern era, with plastic waste accumulation threatening terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric systems globally (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2023; Leal Filho et al., 2019). Conventional waste management strategies, including landfilling, incineration, and limited mechanical recycling, have proven insufficient to address the scale, heterogeneity, and durability of plastic materials, particularly in developing and rapidly urbanizing regions (Chen et al., 2019; He et al., 2019). Within this context, the integration of recycled plastics into asphalt mixtures for road construction has emerged as a technologically promising and environmentally strategic pathway that aligns with circular economy principles and sustainable infrastructure development (Xu et al., 2021). This research article presents an extensive theoretical, methodological, and interpretive examination of recycled plastic utilization in asphalt mixtures, with particular emphasis on material performance, environmental implications, policy relevance, and socio-technical feasibility. Central to this analysis is the synthesis and critical integration of recent empirical and review-based scholarship, including the pivotal contribution by “Use Of Recycled Plastic In Asphalt Mixtures For Road Construction” (2025), which provides contemporary experimental insights into performance enhancement and environmental mitigation achieved through plastic-modified asphalt systems.

The article adopts a qualitative-dominant, literature-grounded methodological framework, drawing upon cross-disciplinary studies in materials science, civil engineering, environmental science, and waste management policy. Through an interpretive analysis of laboratory findings, field applications, and life-cycle assessments, the study elucidates how recycled plastic modifiers influence asphalt rheology, durability, resistance to deformation, and long-term service performance under diverse climatic and traffic conditions (Awwad & Shebeeb, 2007; Rahman et al., 2012). Simultaneously, the environmental dimension is explored by contextualizing plastic-asphalt integration within broader debates on microplastic pollution, landfill leachate contamination, and extended producer responsibility regimes (Hwang et al., 2019; Leal Filho et al., 2019). The findings indicate that, when appropriately processed and proportioned, recycled plastics—particularly polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate—can enhance asphalt performance while diverting significant volumes of plastic waste from environmentally detrimental disposal pathways (Use Of Recycled Plastic In Asphalt Mixtures For Road Construction, 2025; Chin & Damen, 2019).

The discussion critically interrogates both the potentials and limitations of this approach, addressing concerns related to material compatibility, emission risks during asphalt production, long-term environmental behavior, and regulatory standardization. By integrating global case studies and policy perspectives, the article argues that recycled plastic asphalt is not merely a technical innovation but a socio-technical transition requiring coordinated governance, public acceptance, and industry adaptation. Ultimately, this research contributes a comprehensive, theoretically enriched, and policy-relevant understanding of recycled plastic asphalt systems, positioning them as a viable component of sustainable road infrastructure strategies in the Anthropocene.