The City of Melbourne is using plastic previously destined for landfill, including car bumper bars, to resurface five iconic city streets.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said five prominent Melbourne streets will be re-surfaced with asphalt made from recycled plastics.

“The paving on these historically significant streets will look exactly the same as any other street. The difference is that using plastic in the asphalt creates demand for recycled products,” said Capp.

“We collect 11,000 tonnes of residential recycling each year. Using a mix of plastic to resurface our streets is one way we can support the circular economy and reduce landfill.”

The roads re-surfaced during October and November using recycled plastic were Flinders Street, between Exhibition Street and Spring Street; sections of Anderson Street in South Yarra; and Alexandra Avenue in South Yarra. Next year the works will extend to Spring Street between Little Collins Street and Little Bourke Street and Flinders Street, and Collins Street.

The paving consists of 50 per cent recycled plastics and other recyclable materials, such as Slag Aggregates and RAP (Recycled Asphalt Products), with the rest made of virgin materials. The trial will allow City of Melbourne to assess the use of more recycled materials and plastic in the future.

The trial is a joint initiative from the City of Melbourne, its subsidiary Citywide, and the Citywide North Melbourne Asphalt Plant, using plastic waste sourced from metropolitan Melbourne.