Recycled roads to deliver waste savings

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is calling on local councils to join an Australian-first project that will lead to an increase in the use of recycled content in our roads, footpaths and shared pathways.

The Local Government Recycled Roads to Zero Waste Challenge, which is based on research from Swinburne’s Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure, has set local councils a new, more sustainable benchmark for civil construction.

Cr Bill McArthur, President of MAV, said: “With Victorian councils responsible for 129,000 kilometres of roads and 40,000 kilometres of footpaths, this is a great example of where large-scale practical action can be taken to reduce our carbon footprint.

“Boosting the use of recycled crushed glass (RCG), crushed brick and crushed concrete in the base of pavement construction creates new market uses for the 2.2 million tonnes of stockpiles and 800,000 tonnes sent to landfill each year. It also closes the loop on councils’ kerbside recycling programs.

“Local government’s average road expenditure accounts for between nine and 20 per cent of their total budget, but can be much higher for some rural shires.

“By embracing the use of approved recycled content councils will reduce their civil construction costs, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and the reliance on quarried materials, which are becoming harder to source.

“With no reduction in pavement performance, it makes great environmental and economic sense,” he said.

The Recycled Roads to Zero Waste project is an MAV-Sustainability Victoria partnership to increase councils’ use of recycled content in civil construction.

Cr McArthur said nine partner agencies including government, industry and research institutions had been involved in the project since 2009, as well as five municipalities that had constructed demonstration sites.

“The laboratory and field testing concluded that recycled crushed brick and crushed glass in blends of up to 30 per cent were equivalent to, or exceeded, the performance of quarried rock.

“New construction specifications developed by Swinburne for the MAV recommend the use of 15 per cent and 30 per cent RCG and crushed concrete or brick in the sub base of footpaths and shared pathways.

“A separate 2011 VicRoads specification now allows up to 15 per cent crushed brick and RCG content for a Class 3 road base construction, and up to 25 per cent in a Class 4 sub-base construction.

“While demonstration sites across four states are an important catalyst for change, the Recycled Roads to ZeroWaste Sustainability Challenge takes the next step by seeking a formal commitment from Victorian councils.”  For further information visit: www.zerowasteroads.org.au   

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MAV media contacts:

Cr Bill McArthur
Mob: 0437 984 793

MAV Communications
Ph:+61 3 9667 5547

Swinburne media contact:

Crystal Ladiges
E: cladiges@swin.edu.au
Ph: +61 3 9214 5064
Mob: 0416 174 880