Western Australia
Western Australia to start pilot to use recycled materials for road base. Credit: Jon Gjelle.

The Government of Western Australia (WA) will pilot a project involving the use of recycled construction and demolition (C&D) waste as road base.

Roads to Reuse is a pilot scheme expected to be implemented on the Kwinana Freeway Northbound widening project, connecting Russell Road to Roe Highway.

The government will use 25,000t of recycled C&D product on the project.

Main Roads Western Australia will work in collaboration with the Waste Authority and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation as part of the pilot.

“The project will demonstrate to local governments and industry that recycled content is usable and value for money.”

The project is anticipated to increase the use of recycled C&D products in major civil construction projects across WA, as well as support the state government’s plan to redirect construction and demolition waste from ending up in landfill.

Results from the pilot are expected by the end of this year and will be used to form the government’s Roads to Reuse programme.

WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said: “This demonstration project is the beginning of a significant new practice for government.

“It will demonstrate to local governments and industry that recycled content is usable and value for money, redressing the concerns from many years ago that effectively stopped any reuse of valuable construction and demolition materials.”

The government will also launch a new product testing scheme for the C&D recyclers to help with costs associated with sampling and testing of products to ensure they meet proper specifications and are free of contaminants such as asbestos.