Australia can significantly boost domestic recycling by using recycled materials instead of virgin resources on roads to overcome the COAG ban on waste exports, according to an Australian Council of Recycling report.
Undertaken for ACOR by independent consultancy MRA, the research found that by using recovered soft plastics, secondary glass cullet, and passenger tyre crumb in asphalt and/or road base in the nation’s 12 biggest current road projects, such as Sydney’s WestConnex, the Bruce Highway Upgrade in Queensland, and the CityLink Tunnel in Melbourne, Australia could:
- At least double the amount of soft plastic that is currently domestically recycled;
- Increase tyre recycling by 50% and contribute to an immediate export ban on baled tyres that are often inappropriately disposed of in Asia, and;
- Help wipe out every stockpile of unused glass cullet in the country.
“Roads are Australia’s largest single asset, and by building them with recycled materials, we can also deliver domestically sustainable recycling. Our message to governments who build roads is: use recycled content to keep valuable stuff out of tips, deliver value for money to taxpayers, and generate more jobs,” said ACOR CEO, Pete Shmigel.
The report looked at a current total of about 1000 kilometres of new road, and the results were positive. But Shmigel says around 10,000 kilometres of new roads are being constructed, in which case regular use of recycled material according to a new standard for roads, would mean a road-led recycling revolution for regional jobs and environmental benefits like greenhouse gas reduction.
“It’s important to recognise that recycled roads – compared to ‘virgin roads’ – are cost competitive and comparable, if not better, on quality and longevity. Every time you drive from Melbourne Airport to the city, you are driving on an excellent recycled road, and there’s simply no reason why governments should not do more of it,” said Shmigel.
Using the report’s findings, ACOR has urged federal and state environment ministers to pledge to build recycling markets, including using recycled materials in their road projects and to nominate targeted projects.
“The choice is before us. Drive recycled roads into a better economic and environmental future, or drive old roads straight to the tip,” said Shmigel.
Photo by Adrien Coquet on Unsplash