The outcome
A blended surfacing material using recycled content has been developed. The product:
- fulfils a need for safer road surfaces
- changes low-quality post-consumer recycled glass into a value-added material.
It was found that more than half of the previously imported aggregate can be replaced with locally sourced post-consumer recycled glass.
This delivers a surface that performs:
- similarly to the established technology
- well above the Department of Transport and Planning’s minimum criteria for high friction surfaces.
The need
The project aimed to develop a high friction surface treatment (HFST), incorporating blends of corundum and recycled crushed glass. This replaced virgin material use.
These treatments are applied to the road in higher speed zones and crash-prone locations. They can help improve safety and reduce injuries and fatalities in road crashes.
The proposal was to create a HFST that utilised post-consumer recycled glass. This would
- make the surfacing more affordable and sustainable for Australian state, territory and local governments
- reduce the amount of glass going to landfill
- increase the use of lifesaving HFST on Australian roads.
In use on our roads, the product will have tangible benefits for Victorians including:
- communities, with the increased safety and sustainability of our built roads
- recycled materials suppliers, with demand for their materials
- manufacturers of road safety products
- asset owners including State Road and local government authorities.
