The eco-friendly kerbing is constructed from heavy-duty waste plastic and has been designed to replace the 2.5 million concrete versions that are fitted to the UK's pavements each year.
The lifespan of the new Ezikerb is roughly double that of the concrete alternative and if used to replace the 700,000 miles of traditional kerbstones will divert around half-a-million tons of waste a year from landfill sites.
Yorkshire-based innovators i-plas developed the revolutionary building material and the green kerbing is about to be installed on the streets of Britain as several councils trial the blocks.
The same composite material is already being used to manufacture green railway sleepers replacing the rail network's concrete track beds.
Tests show the Ezikerb is less likely to crack and break than the traditional versions and friendlier to the environment as the production of one ton of concrete generates nearly a ton of CO2.
It also weighs less than 30kg, making it easier to install than the 70kg concrete alternative, which takes operatives more than twice as long to lay.
According to Howard Waghorn, managing director of i-plas, the increased efficiency and reduced waste will cut thousands of pounds off the highways' repair bill and save even more from the construction of new roads.
He added: “Conventional kerbstones or bricks were used to mark out roads and drains with the traditional ‘brick on edge’ method. This new installation process of Ezikerb will prevent thousands of bricks being broken and having to be disposed of at the end of a project, saving thousands of pounds per mile.”
And Waghorn said the launch of the recycled kerbstone should spell the end for the concrete alternative.
He explained: “The availability of this product means there is no longer any need for the construction and house building industries to continue with their use of concrete kerbstones.
“The recycled plastic kerbstone is easier to install, is more practical and outperforms the concrete alternative, while environmentally there is no comparison.”
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