Rubbish resurfaces as road cover

GOOD roads can come from old rubbish, as resurfacing works completed at Arnisdale Road, Duncraig show.

The City of Joondalup used Reconophalt for the project, incorporating materials destined for landfill, including waste toner from about 4950 printer cartridges, 217,105 single-use plastic shopping bags, scrap rubber from 157 tyres and more than 27 tonnes of recycled asphalt.

The City was one of the first local governments in Western Australia to partner with the Downer Group and use Reconophalt after successful trials of the product interstate.

Mayor Albert Jacob said as an innovative local government, the City was excited to incorporate Reconophalt into its operations.

“Products like Reconophalt are vital, as they provide another purpose to reuse soft plastics like single-use plastic bags, which previously had to go to landfill,” Mr Jacob said.

“The environmental benefits of this product are pretty clear, and we would like to see the use of Reconphalt extended to other road projects in the City.

“The City of Joondalup has been at the forefront of recycling initiatives. That’s why we have been able to keep our refuse charge frozen for the past five years and why it remains one of the lowest rates among Perth metropolitan local governments.

“Embracing projects such as resurfacing with products like Reconophalt allow us to deliver cost benefits to our ratepayers, while helping us meet the State Government’s target of diverting 65 per cent of municipal solid waste from landfill by 2020.”

Single-use plastic bags to become road in Duncraig