In the midst of the current environmental crisis, Green Dragon Lane has been resurfaced using waste plastic.

Enfield is the first London council to use asphalt mixed with plastic that would otherwise end up in landfill.

Additional funding has now been secured from Transport for London following the success of Green Dragon Lane to continue with this new approach to amending roads.

Enfield Council hopes to use the new mix which is tougher and more durable than standard tarmac to resurface roads across the borough.

Ocean Watch estimates that there are 140 million tonnes of plastic in the world’s seas and oceans. Over the past 50 years the production and disposal of plastics has rapidly multiplied, with less than a third of Europe’s plastic waste being recycled and the rest ending up in landfill in 2014.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said: “We all know that plastics can have a devastating impact on the environment, particularly when the product reaches our seas and oceans. We all have a responsibility to step up our efforts to help the environment by recycling more, upcycling and responsibly sourcing materials.

“Enfield Council is delighted with this road trial and hope we can use more of the product across the borough to help divert plastics from landfill and reduce the carbon footprint for road construction.”

The trial site was chosen as it is a relatively busy road, serving as a route for three buses and other vehicle traffic.

Monitoring of the road has shown the asphalt mix is performing well and is proving to be a long-term, durable solution to road resurfacing.