Banyule Council trials recycled road repairs in carbon neutral plan
A 160m stretch of recycled road has been laid in Watsonia in a first for Banyule. It’s part of a council plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2028. See what else is in store for the municipality.
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Used toner cartridges have been used to seal a 160m-long stretch of road in Watsonia.
The Banyule first saw the council repair a section on Mundy St with recycled road materials made from 85,000 plastic bags, 27,000 glass bottles, waste from 2000 toner cartridges and reclaimed asphalt.
Mayor Wayne Phillips said the council’s priority was to reduce waste going to landfill and increase recycling.
“We have a responsibility to our community to deliver solutions that help protect and care for our environment now and into the future,” Mr Phillips said.
The council will test the performance of the modified asphalt over a five-year trial in various locations in Banyule.
If the results are positive, they will look to roll out the product in all road repairs.
Cr Phillips said the council’s road resurfacing program serviced 10km of roads each financial year.
“If we used modified asphalt for all repairs it would mean diverting an astronomical amount of waste from landfill and help us make create more sustainable communities,” he said.
The council worked with infrastructure company, Downer, and resource recovery and recycling companies, Close the Loop and Red Group for the Mundy St road.
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Every kilometre of road paved with the modified asphalt contains 530,000 plastic shopping bags, 168,000 glass bottles, waste toner from 12,500 printer cartridges and 20 per cent reclaimed asphalt.
The initiative falls in line with Banyule Council’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2028.
It will also replace all street lighting with energy efficient LEDs, replacing fleet vehicles with electric cars, increase its Environmental Grants pool to $125,000 and continuing to purchase 100 per cent green power as part of the target.
The council’s draft Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan is open for comment until November 8 on Shaping Banyule.
courtney.beaumont@news.com.au