Page 972 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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Earlier this month I announced that a new type of asphalt is being trialled on ACT roads made from a range of recycled materials. We have done similar trials before. Unlike the previous trials this asphalt uses a mixture of recycled products. Products recycled include plastic bags, glass bottles, printer cartridges and recycled asphalt sourced from local roads and also soft plastics.
There are close to 3,150 kilometres of roads across Canberra, and beginning a transition to road surfaces with more recycled materials will provide greater environmental benefits, remove waste product from the waste stream as well as reduce the cost of resurfacing.
We also have to ensure that our roads continue to be sturdy and safe for commuters. The new asphalt is designed to be stronger and more resistant to deformation, so Canberra drivers can continue to drive with confidence.
The ACT government will continue to look at innovative ways to re-use materials where we can. The first trial will be taking place at the roundabout on Gundaroo Drive between Palin Street and Hollingsworth Street. These trials support the use of resources as much as possible in a circular economy before they go into landfill, creating jobs, with benefits for road users and the environment.
MS CODY: Minister, how do these resurfacing techniques help to reduce waste going to landfill and contribute to the circular economy?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Cody for her supplementary. It is important to note the effect of China’s national sword policy on the recycling industry in Australia. China has now been followed by Indonesia as well.
I have previously stated that the whole country is facing a massive challenge when it comes to our recycling. We have seen stockpiles building up at materials recovery facilities in multiple jurisdictions around Australia as the market comes to terms with the fact that we can no longer rely on overseas markets to accept recyclable material. Using innovative road surfacing products means that waste that would have originally ended up in landfill can be used in our roads, and we are creating a new market for recyclable material as well in asphalt.
The amount of waste diverted from going to landfill is very significant. Every tonne of this innovative asphalt product will contain approximately 800 plastic bags, 300 glass bottles, 18 printer toner cartridges and 250 kilograms of reclaimed asphalt. For every tonne of this product laid, recyclable material and waste will not end up in landfill. The reclaimed asphalt has also been sourced from local roads, and is being sourced from the ACT’s kerbside recycling system, or yellow bins. Some of the material is also made of some of the soft plastic going through the ACT container deposit scheme, so it is great to see that our different waste services in the ACT are working together to promote the sustainable use of waste.
MS ORR: Minister, how can other organisations such as the Canberra Kart Racing Club, contribute to the circular economy?
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