Research on recycled construction materials receives VIC Gov funding

Modular parts for tram stops made of reinforced recycled plastic, low-carbon concrete that uses pre-treated cardboard waste and housing trusses incorporating recycled cardboard are among research projects receiving funding from the Victorian Government as part of the Recycling Victoria Research and Development Fund.

The fund, which was established as part of Recycling Victoria’s 10-year action plan to minimise waste going to landfill, has allocated $2.1 million in co-funding to ten research institutes to create new products that can use recycled materials including plastic, paper, glass, cardboard and tyres.

Monash University’s Institute of Railway Technology was awarded $300,000 to develop ways to turn recycled plastic into components for the construction of tram stops, in partnership with Yarra Trams, Integrated Recycling and Advanced Circular Polymer.

Swinburne University of Technology and industry partners Polyfoam and Frubber have been awarded $200,000 to develop a new process to develop a new process for recycling polystyrene by using tyre crumbs to manufacture waffle pod spacers and reinforced residential housing slabs.

RMIT University and partners Sustainable Structural Products Australia and Bendigo City Council have received $200,000 in funding to create items for use in construction from recycled plastics, tyre and timber.

RMIT University has also received $200,000 in partnership with with Enviromesh (Fibrecon) and Citywide to develop low-carbon concrete that uses pre-treated cardboard waste for use in constructing walls for multi-unit residential and commercial buildings.

RMIT University and partners Intrax Consulting Engineers and Citywide have been awarded $91,168 to investigate using recycled cardboard in trusses for residential housing.

ARRB Group has received $81,000 to partner with Omni Grip to investigate using an aggregate blend that includes recycled glass.

Victoria University and partners Ground Science and City West Water have been granted $220,000 to investigate using blends of recycled glass, plastic, tyre, as well as construction and demolition wastes, as backfill material for sewer infrastructure to help minimise the potential for subsidence.

Deakin University and aprtners Gale Pacific, GT Recycling, and Lyondell Basell will use their $255,000 grant to maximise the amount of recycled polypropylene (PP) that can be added to Gale Pacific’s polyfabric product, Landmark.

CSIRO has received $300,000 in partnership with with Think Fencing, Vinyl Council of Australia, and National Waste Recycling Industry Council working with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounders and manufacturers.

Swinburne University of Technology will use its $300,000 grant, in partnership with GT Recycling and Robovoid, to explore ways to use recycled plastics in bedding, including frames and mattresses.

Minister D’Ambrosio also announced $750,000 is now available through the Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund to support projects that will minimise waste in the production process, with grants of up to $250,000 available.

These investments are part of the state government’s $515 million investment to transform the waste and recycling sector and create jobs while building a more sustainable economy.