Rubber roads have environmental benefits, council-led pilot projects

A major council-led trial of recycled rubber roads is delivering positive environmental results, according to an analysis by RMIT researchers.

The demonstration project led by the Southern Sydney Regional Organization of Councils (SSROC) aims to test whether adding crumbled rubber from end-of-life tires to asphalt can improve durability, performance and environmental sustainability.

As part of the Bayside, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, City of Sydney, Georges River, Inner West, Randwick, Sutherland, Waverley and Woollahra and Northern Beaches projects, the councils will each have a road resurfaced with asphalt mixed with recycled rubber. .

Three sites in the Burwood Council, City of Sydney and Northern Beaches Council areas were selected for an in-depth investigation by researchers from RMIT University, who report their findings in an article titled Life cycle assessment and potential environmental benefits of crumbled rubber asphalt using field data.

Final report submitted to SSROC

The researchers say the findings of their study support the use of crumb rubber in asphalt.

“The longer lifespan and reduced environmental impact underline the importance of incorporating recycled materials, such as CR, into asphalt for sustainable infrastructure development,” they say.

“The study results support the adoption of CR in asphalt mixtures through policy incentives and awareness programs that promote sustainable practices on municipal roads.”

The study results support the adoption of CR in asphalt mixtures through policy incentives and awareness programs that promote sustainable practices on municipal roads.

RMIT study

SSROC president and Mayor of Burwood John Faker says the findings make a strong argument for the benefits of rubber roads.

“The use of crumb rubber in the construction and maintenance of asphalt pavements makes a substantial contribution to low-carbon infrastructure, minimizing long-term maintenance costs, maximizing performance and promoting a more sustainable approach,” he said.

Direct and indirect benefits

The research team assessed the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of recycled rubber asphalt pavements compared to conventional asphalt mixtures, which were installed on the same site and exposed to similar traffic and weather conditions.

They discovered that recycled rubber extends the life of the road surface, reduces the demand for raw materials and lowers the impact on the environment.

The research showed that incorporating recycled rubber into asphalt mixtures using a so-called wet method – in which rubber crumbs are mixed into bitumen at high temperatures – can reduce the environmental impact during the production and construction phase compared to conventional asphalt.

Adding 10 percent rubber crumbs by weight of the total binder also resulted in a lower environmental impact compared to using 1 kg of conventional bitumen, due to reduced emissions during the construction phase.

The research also showed indirect environmental benefits, including diverting waste tires from landfills.

The researchers noted separate research showing that rubber-modified asphalt can reduce environmental impacts associated with maintenance by as much as 30 percent.

“RMIT University’s calculations of project-level environmental impacts at SSROC councils have shown that incorporating crumb rubber into asphalt roads using the wet method holds great promise for reducing the overall carbon footprint of these roads by up to 30 percent during their use. life,” said Filippo Giustozzi, professor of Civil Engineering and Infrastructure at RMIT.

“This can potentially offset the environmental impacts generated by new road construction and ongoing maintenance works, thus contributing to the decarbonisation of road infrastructure.”

Sustainable infrastructure

The project received support from Tire Stewardship Australia (TSA) and the Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AfPA).

TSA Chief Executive Officer Lina Goodman said the results now address the benefits of crumb rubber in asphalt.

“The longer lifespan and reduced environmental impact underline the importance of incorporating recycled materials, such as reclaimed crumb rubber, into asphalt for sustainable infrastructure development.”

AfPA Executive Director Technology and Leadership, Anna D’Angelo, said using crumb rubber from waste tires could help Australia reduce the more than 450,000 tonnes of waste tires generated annually.

“This project is a great example of circular economy,” he said.

Queensland Council is testing OTR tyres

Meanwhile, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Council is testing the use of rubber crumbs from off-the-road (OTR) tires from Boral’s quarries.

The project is a joint effort between Sunshine Coast Council and Boral and its subsidiaries and is led by the AfPA.

The test assesses the right mix of rubber binder and asphalt for optimal performance in low to high traffic conditions.

Recycled rubber from end-of-life tires has been used on Australian roads for some time, but it’s exciting to look at the potential of OTR crumb rubber to help build resilient and sustainable roads, Ms Goodman says.

“Using locally sourced tire-derived materials in regional, rural and remote infrastructure has the potential to make a major dent in the 245,000 tonnes of OTR rubber products generated each year,” she said.

“The Sunshine Coast is located in a critical catchment area with a high concentration of OTR rubber product use.

“If this project is successful, it has the potential to have a positive impact, by creating reliable economic opportunities for local industry and businesses and by empowering local users of OTR rubber products with a homegrown local market for their products.”

Rick Baberowski, councilor for Sunshine Coast Council’s community and transport portfolio, says the council looks forward to the results of the trial, which will provide other councils in regions where off-the-road tires are used with technical information to improve model in their local government. area.

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