Recycled toner and tyres resurface Noosa's roads

Noosa Council has partnered with contractor Downer to use high performance road resurfacing products made out of toner from recycled printer cartridges and old car tyres, in combination with bitumen.

Council’s Civil Operations Manager Allan Hull said “Noosa Asphalt” is better for the environment than conventional asphalt because it uses recycled toner and because it is manufactured at a lower temperature than conventional asphalt.

“It’s a warm mix, not a hot mix.”

Its use in this year’s road resealing program will save more than a million old printer cartridges from being sent to landfill. The program also reclaims thousands of tonnes of old asphalt.

As well as reducing the amount of waste bound for landfill, Noosa Asphalt’s benefits include lower carbon emissions.

“Whereas similar road surfaces incorporate one or two sustainable technologies, such as the use of one recycled material or the use of lower-temperature manufacturing, Noosa Asphalt incorporates several,” Allan Hull said.

“That makes it a significant innovation in road construction. With this product Noosa is raising the bar in terms of best practice at no extra cost. It is exciting to think that Noosa Asphalt could one day be used across the country.”

“Thousands of old car tyres are used in another product to improve road surfaces by making them more flexible. It helps prevent cracking and reduces the risk of water penetrating the underlying pavement. It also saves all those old tyres being sent to landfill.” Mr Hull said.

“When the opportunity arose to trial these new products, all the councillors were very keen to get on board,” Mayor Wellington said. “This is another example of how Council was working hard to reduce its overall impact on the environment.”

15 March 2017