Boral is partnering with eight Sydney local councils on the most significant recycled rubber asphalt demonstration project in Australia.

The ground-breaking initiative in collaboration with the Sydney Local Councils of Bayside, Burwood, City of Sydney, Woollahra, Randwick City, Sutherland Shire, Northern Beaches, and Inner-west City, is aimed at the sustainability and extended lifespan of council roads.

Recycling Tyres for Roads

Spearheaded by the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), the Recycling Tyres for Roads initiative revolves around repurposing end-of-life car and truck tyres into crumbed rubber asphalt, creating a more sustainable solution for council roads, reducing costs, and fostering a market for old tyres.

Sustainability at its core

Initially, the project will recycle the rubber from 3,600 standard passenger car tyres or a combination of 2,400 car tyres and 490 truck tyres.

Collaborative approach

Post Boral's successful tender, we're now collaborating with eight out of the 12 participating local councils.

Progress update

Boral successfully laid its first pavement in early June 2023. Completion of the remaining works across various council areas is eagerly anticipated.

The effectiveness of each asphalt blend will be vigilantly monitored for an initial duration of 12 months under various conditions to gauge the product’s advantages. This will not only provide detailed insights on the use of recycled rubber treatments but also set the tone for the development of future crumb rubber asphalt specifications in upcoming ventures.

Understanding crumbed rubber asphalt

In this initiative, crumbed rubber asphalt uses recycled rubber as a binder in asphalt pavement construction. Notably, this variant, which is wet blended before production, offers enhanced durability and resilience compared to its standard counterparts.