Major tire-waste road trial in Australia

Collingwood, Australia – Asphalt made using crumb rubber from scrap tires is being laid on a busy Melbourne road as part of a major new trial, Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) has announced. 

The project is jointly funded by TSA, the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) and the Victorian Department of Transport (DoT), said the 30 March release

“Australia generates the equivalent of 56 million used car tires every year. Around 30% of those end up in landfill or are stockpiled,” CEO of TSA, Lina Goodman said. 

“Finding innovative and sustainable ways of using old tires is vital and crumb rubber asphalt roads are the perfect solution to a waste problem,” added Goodman.

The trial is in line with the state government’s ‘recycled first’ policy, which aims to increase the use of recycled materials in construction projects.

As well as the contribution to waste-stream management, the use of crumb tire rubber in the asphalt mix adds value to the road structure, noted ARRB chief executive Michael Caltabiano. 

“ARRB’s applied research findings show that a crumb rubber asphalt lasts longer, performs better and delivers a better economic outcome for the community,” commented Caltabiano.

The equivalent of around 1600 car tires will be used in the trial on a 1.4km section of road, according to TSA’s statement. 

The work involves the application of four different crumb rubber asphalt mixes and two asphalt control sections. 

Lab and field testing will be conducted at regular intervals with a final report due by mid-2022, said TSA, adding that the project is the first of its kind in Australia. 

TSA was formed five years ago to implement Australia’s Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme to develop viable markets for end-of-life tires. 

The agency is made up of representative across the tire supply-chain, including retailers, manufacturers, recyclers and collectors.