Recycled tyre rubber hits the road

[qingxiang]

Used rubber fiber separator equipment clogging up landfill could be hitting the road again thanks to a Palaszczuk Government funded recycling project.

Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey and Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the Palaszczuk Government was leading a national plan to put more rubber into roads.

“The disposal of rubber extruder is a national problem but Queensland has the opportunity to be the leader in this recycling strategy,” Mr Bailey said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is partnering with Tyre Stewardship Australia to develop and trial specifications for the use of crumbed rubber in road asphalt applications.

“The stage 1 research found that rubber mixing mill in spray seals can lead to improved road performance, now we want to see if this is also true for asphalt.

“We are about to enter the second year of a four year study into tyre recycling, but road asphalt applications have already proven successful in Queensland trials.”

Minister Miles said recycling used tyres into roads makes sense because it works on several levels.

“Every year in Australia more than 51 million rubber vulcanizing equipment their end of life and only 16 per cent of these tyres are recycled, with most ending up stockpiled or dumped in landfill.

“The previous LNP government de-regulated tyre storage, leading to a re-emergence of tyre stockpiling and a reduction in the flow of waste tyres into the Queensland market.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to finding innovative solutions when it comes to waste.

Touring recycling facility Chip Tyre in New Chum, Minister Bailey and Minister Miles were impressed by the local business that accepts old tyres for recycling.

“Chip Tyre shreds some 2.2 million used tyres each year for reuse in products such as adhesives, carpet underlay and road product,” Dr Miles said.

“From the end of this year, Chip Tyre will also crumb old tyres for road-based projects, preventing even more tyres from ending up as landfill.”

In addition, the Palaszczuk Government is also considering the feasibility of banning tyres, along with timber, green waste and concrete from disposal at landfills in a bid to boost recycling rates and market opportunities for these materials.

Dr Miles said while Queensland householders would still be allowed to take these items to the tip, alternatives to putting them in landfill would need to be offered.