Central Queensland mining tyres recycled to resurface highways

In a Queensland first, giant tyres from mining vehicles have been used to resurface a major CQ highway.

Giant mining tyres have been part of a Queensland first trial where they have been broken down to help resurface roads.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has partnered with a mining giant and a peak body to show tyres from large mining vehicles can successfully be recycled and add value to road construction.

TMR has partnered with BHP and Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AfPA) in a Queensland first trial where mining truck tyres have been turned into crumb rubber, previously a waste product, to resurface a major highway.

A project team investigated if a crumb rubber modified binder made from off-the-road (OTR) mining tyres could make a spay seal for roads in Queensland.

BHP supplied two giant mining tyres for the trial, which were used to produce 7.1 tonnes of small crumbs which were added to bitumen and used to resurface the Peak Downs Highway in December last year.

A single giant mining tyre can make 3.55 tonnes of crumb rubber and be used to seal up to 3.5 kilometres of rural highway.

TMR Chief Engineer Dennis Walsh said the project meant the tyres had returned “full circle” to a location close to their working origins.

“Although OTR tyres make up to 25 per cent of ‘end of life’ tyres in Australia each year, they make up only four per cent of recovered tyre waste rubber,” he said.

“This collaboration between TMR and our industry partners supports the Queensland Government’s commitment to a more sustainable future through our Environmental Sustainability Policy and Waste to Resource Strategy.”

BMA BHP Mitsubishi Alliance asset president Mauro Neves said the project provided the mining industry a sustainable way to reuse tyre waste that would end up in landfill.

“It will have a positive impact on the environment, as more than 6,000 tonnes of tyres can be used to seal roads,” he said.

“This is a great example of how the by-products of mining can be used to positively affect the local communities where we operate.

“We look forward to exploring how we can now further expand this trial to other road surfaces around the country.”

AfPA Executive Director, Technology and Leadership Anna D’Angelo said they were keen to promote the sustainability of our industry by protecting the environment and moving toward a circular economy.