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THE FIRST LARGE-SCALE CRUMB RUBBER ASPHALT TRIAL IS IN THE WORKS ON AN ARTERIAL ROAD IN MELBOURNE. IF SUCCESSFUL, IT COULD ALLOW THE SPECIFICATION FOR USE OF RECYCLED CRUMB RUBBER IN ASPHALT APPLICATIONS.
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research trial to determine optimal levels of recycled crumb rubber content within the asphalt of newly constructed Australian roads will soon begin in Victoria. Aimed at establishing consistent technical specifications for waste tyre use in the construction of Australian roads, the trial is expected to further increase confidence in the procurement chain for tyre crumb and open the market to further demand. Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA), in collaboration with Victoria’s Department for Transport, has commissioned the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) to conduct the two-year research trial. The trial will be see a literal road Tyres processed by Tyrecycle are all recycled to create commodities for use as raw materials.
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test of at least six industry-supplied asphalt variations laid consecutively on a 1.5-kilometre section of road in Melbourne’s Bentleigh East, including two vehicle lanes, parking and cycling. The results will assess technical specifications of the rubber-containing asphalt mix emissions resulting from the construction process and the overall performance of the finished surface. Jim Fairweather, CEO of major tyre recycler Tyrecycle, says the company has a good working relationship with ARRB and is very happy to support the trial with the crumb rubber feedstock. “Adopting standardised specifications has the potential to drive further
confidence in decision makers such as engineers and government procurement departments, and boost market demand for remanufactured end-of-life tyres,” Mr. Fairweather says. “It’s staggering to think that of the 450,000 tonnes of tyres the TSA estimates reach their end-of-life every year in Australia, only nine per cent are currently being reused, recycled or recovered.” Tyres processed by Tyrecycle are all recycled to create commodities for use as raw materials in the manufacturing of new products. A significant proportion of these materials are already used in civil work such as road construction, along with soft-
