ARRB gets $200,000 grant for recycled crushed glass trial

The Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Victorian Government through Sustainability Victoria to trial recycled crushed glass in asphalt on local roads.

ARRB was issued the grant alongside the Brimbank City Council and the Department of Transport to work on the trial.

Using finley crushed glass in road pavement materials has the potential to create viable markets for vast amounts of glass collected in Victoria. Over 250,000 tonnes of glass is recovered in Victoria every year.

This trial will look to use especially the glass that is low-value and not easily recycled back into other glass products.

Recently ARRB presented its significant research in this space at the Smart Pavements Now masterclass event in Melbourne.

This grant is one of nine issued by Sustainability Victoria under its research, development and demonstration grants program.

The projects will receive a combined total of $1.6 million in funding.

Swinburne University will also receive $192,950 to evaluate the use of recovered glass, plastics and crushed concrete in foundations for railway structures.

The funding aims to increase consumer and business confidence in the quality of recycled content in a range of products. Other funded projects include the use of e-waste materials such as solar panels and batteries.

Sustainability Victoria’s interim CEO Carl Muller said it’s all part of Victoria’s growing circular economy.

“We need proven recycled content products and markets for those products to make recycling viable.”

ARRB project lead Doctor James Grenfell said the potential for use of recycled glass in asphalt offered great opportunities for councils, especially in helping deal with Australia’s current recycling issue.

“The other exciting aspect is the engagement with a local city council and to have the ability to monitor a field trial for an extended period of time,” said Dr. Grenfell.

“The collaboration with local government is what we want to get so we can help local government use the waste stream for their road rehabilitation schemes.”

The grant proposal was created by Dr. Grenfell and ARRB colleagues Melissa Lyons and Lydia Thomas.