Fairfield City Council is trialling the use of recycled construction waste in a number of road reconstruction sites. If it works well, Council will use the mix on other roads across the City.
Located 32 kilometres southwest of Sydney’s CBD, Fairfield Council covers 104 square kilometres and maintains around 800 kilometres of roads.
A recent report by the New South Wales Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) showed that while 67 per cent of construction and demolition material is being recycled in New South Wales, more than two million tonnes is still being sent to landfill every year.
New South Wales Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Frank Sartor, said that this project will help reduce that amount and contribute to achieving the State’s target of increasing construction waste recycling to 76 per cent by 2014.
“Out of all dumped construction waste, up to 40 per cent is suitable for recovery, including 89 per cent of all concrete, 90 per cent of natural aggregates and 67 per cent of asphalt,” he said.
“By recycling these waste products into roads we are making a significant dent in the amount of dumped materials.
“It can also help the environment by reducing the need for quarried rock and conserving natural resources. Not only does this reduce costs, but it avoids the need to transport new materials and deplete raw mineral resources.”
Fairfield Mayor Nick Lalich said that the recycled materials are being sourced from the Sustainable Resource Centre at Wetherill Park, which was set up by Council in response to recycling needs. Each year, it recycles 100,000 tonnes of unwanted road materials, such as concrete, brick and asphalt waste.
“We already produce a 95 per cent recycled concrete mix, which we recently used in the construction of a new community hall,” Councillor Lalich said. “This latest trial has allowed us to progress our work in the recycling field even further.”
The trial includes three roads in Fairfield, with one road already completed using 93 per cent recycled construction and demolition waste, rather than quarried rock. Materials ripped up from this road have been sent to Council’s Sustainable Resource Centre and are likely to be used for the second and third roads in the trial.
Works undertaken are in full compliance with current Australian engineering processes, standards and testing requirements. The material was tested for moisture, size and composition when produced and was tested again while placed on site.
Once vehicles are using them, the performance of all three roads will also be routinely tested for a period of time.
For further information contact Council on (02) 9725 0222.
