Tyres used in North Fremantle footpath

FREMANTLE could be the first council to recycle rubber tyres into new footpaths.

Paving along North Fremantle’s Thompson Road was laid using recycled rubber tyres, with the material similar to rubber softfall used in playgrounds.

It also allows trees to grow along the path.

City of Fremantle infrastructure engineering manager David Janssens said this footpath was part of the City’s push to come up with new ways to use recycled materials.

“One of our objectives at the City is to find innovative uses for recycled materials that are not only good for the environment but also deliver a cost saving for ratepayers,” he said.

“As well as using recycled car and truck tyres on the top layer of the Thompson Road footpath, the base layer was made out of recycled road millings from our recent road resurfacing projects.”

Mr Janssens said this was the first time the material was used in footpaths in Fremantle.

“The use of softfall rubber in playgrounds has shown that the material is surprisingly hard wearing,” he said.

“We expect there will actually be less maintenance because the flexible surface will allow the trunks and roots of the nearby trees to continue to grow without cracking the pavement, which would have happened if we’d used traditional concrete materials that are far less flexible.

“If this treatment proves successful, we will look to use it again if the opportunity arises.

“We look at each project on a case-by-case basis and choose the material that is best suited to that particular job, but we are always looking for new ways to use recycled materials.”