Mozart Street in St Kilda, Melbourne was resurfaced with 800 kilograms of plastic last year.
PLASTIPHALT SETS NEW STANDARD
FOR GREENER ROADS A REVOLUTIONARY NEW ASPHALT PRODUCT THAT USES A PREVIOUSLY UNIDENTIFIED SOURCE OF RECYCLED PLASTIC IS SET TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE DUMPED IN AUSTRALIA’S LANDFILLS.
T
he scourge of plastic pollution in rivers and oceans worldwide is a well-known concern, as nearly three-quarters of the waste along Australian coastlines is plastic, according to CSIRO. The ubiquitous material, which has increased 20-fold in the past century, is predicted by the World Economic Forum to double again in the next 20 years. Moreover, research into the implications of microplastics – tiny pieces of plastic less than five millimetres long – on human health is still being conducted. While some plastic alternatives are readily identifiable, the historical blend 14
ROADS MARCH 2020
of various plastics in manufacturing has thrown a curveball at its direct remanufacturing. Additionally, international restrictions on waste exports have challenged the commercial viability of plastics recycling. Consequently, the roads sector has been inspired to play its part in the waste crisis, finding local solutions to an international problem. Last year, leading infrastructure and civil construction company Fulton Hogan developed a groundbreaking proprietary product called PlastiPhalt. The innovative, environmentally friendly asphalt pavement contains shredded plastic and has already
been laid on several council roads. Recycled plastic has been incorporated into asphalt for Australian roads by the industry previously. Building on these efforts has been about innovation, with Fulton Hogan sourcing plastic from a number of strategic supply sources. This has allowed the company to provide the right mix of product to manufacture PlastiPhalt to a high level of performance that meets Austroads guidelines. Now, Fulton Hogan has identified a new source of recycled plastic which was previously consigned to landfill. They are utilising recycled automotive plastic as the key ingredient, which has become
