South Australia trials recycled tyre road surface
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 14th Dec 2018
TYRE Stewardship Australia (TSA) has rolled out a trial in South Australia of a new road surface made from worn-out rubber that could literally pave the way for increased recycled tyre usage locally.
Installed in the City of Mitcham in Adelaide’s south last week, the new road on Stanake Avenue, St Marys, stretches 335 metres long and is made from crumbed rubber asphalt with a rubberised road surface spray seal, which is expected to improve long-term road durability.
The specific compound used in the City of Mitcham is a warm mix dense-graded rubber modified asphalt, which was specially chosen for the area’s soil conditions and reactive clay.
The trial will access several performance factors including cracking, rutting, moisture retention and durability that is expected to inform the further development of the new road substance around the country.
According to the TSA, 56 million tyres are generated each year, with only around 10 per cent of the volume recycled in Australia.
Approximately 850 end-of-life tyres were used to created the trial road surface, averaging 1.5 tyres for every ton of asphalt laid.
Furthermore, TSA acting CEO Steve Clifford said the new road surface could also increase the number of domestic jobs as the rubber is processed and used on Australian roads.
“The council is to be congratulated for grasping the opportunity to deliver better infrastructure whilst addressing a sustainability challenge,” he said.
“The work done in South Australia will play an important role in creating valuable domestic recycling outcomes for end-of-life tyres. Outcomes that can deliver new green jobs.”
Meanwhile, City of Mitcham mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said the reuse of old tyres would also aid the environment.
“We are trialling the crumb rubber asphalt because of the significant environmental benefits as well as the opportunity to improve the quality and life of road pavements, particularly in areas of reactive clay soils,” she said.
“Not only is there a sustainability dividend, but the asphalt will also have the potential to directly lower maintenance costs, given it is less prone to cracking and rutting.”
The trial will run for the next two years, while a full details of the asphalt mix can be found from TSA.
