A new sustainable road surfacing substance, made from recycled materials, will be used for METRONET’s Denny Avenue Level Crossing Removal project.
The road surfacing material, called Reconophalt, is made from thousands of recycled plastic bags, toner from used printer cartridges, rubber from end-of-life tyres and reclaimed asphalt pavement mixed with traditional asphalt.
The product was developed by project contractor, Downer, and was laid on the new cul-de-sac section of Third Avenue in Kelmscott.
It’s the first time Reconophalt has been used on a Western Australian State Government project.
METRONET Sustainability Strategy Lead, Susie Page, said this is a great example of how METRONET is using sustainable practices to help meet recycling and carbon emission reduction targets.
“Using products like Reconophalt supports our Sustainability Strategy, which works towards a circular economy by implementing practical ways to reduce our carbon footprint during construction and into operation,” Ms Page said.
“The more we invest and innovate like this, the more our projects will benefit our community by contributing to Perth’s sustainable future.”
Reconophalt contains recycled materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. It has considerable sustainability and performance benefits, such as greater durability over time, reduced energy use and lower cost – and can even be recycled at the end of its useful life.
Creating new sustainability opportunities on the Denny Avenue project is possible thanks to a shared collaboration between METRONET, the City of Armadale, and the Public Transport Authority.
Downer’s Environment and Sustainability Group Manager, Matt Hunter, said this shared commitment to sustainable initiatives has enabled the project to recycle and repurpose waste into different streams of use, reducing the community’s reliance on non-sustainable materials.
“Reconophalt plays a key role in supporting our customers to meet or exceed their individual recycling and carbon emission reduction targets,” Mr Hunter said.
“Through a collaborative approach, we are able to detail carbon tonnes saved and quantify the materials diverted from landfill.”
