The road to recycling in METRONET
Reconophalt™, an innovative road surfacing material developed by Downer, was used in the METRONET Denny Avenue Level Crossing Removal Project.
The METRONET Denny Avenue Level Crossing in Kelmscott was the first crossing to be removed under the METRONET Level Crossing Removal program. Removing this crossing increased safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, reduced road congestion, and revitalized the local area.
Reconophalt™ is an innovative road surfacing material developed by Downer, incorporating around 47,000 recycled plastic bags, toner from used printer cartridges, crumb rubber from end-of-life tyres, and 25% reclaimed asphalt pavement. This sustainable product was used for the first time on a Western Australian State Government project, specifically on the new cul-de-sac section of Third Avenue in Kelmscott, as part of the METRONET Denny Avenue Level Crossing Removal Project.
Challenges and outcomes
Reconophalt™ addresses the challenge of reducing waste and carbon emissions by utilizing high recycled content that would otherwise end up in landfill or be stockpiled. The material offers significant sustainability and performance benefits, including greater durability, reduced energy use, and lower costs. Additionally, it can be recycled at the end of its useful life. The 60 tonnes of Reconophalt™ used on 900m² of road contained the equivalent of:
- 47,368 plastic bags
- 1,078 toner cartridges
- 71 car tyres' worth of crumb rubber
- 15 tonnes of recycled asphalt.
Using products like Reconophalt™ supports the Sustainability Strategy, which aims to achieve a low waste circular economy by implementing practical ways to reduce the carbon footprint during construction and operation.
Next steps
The success of this project sets a precedent for future projects to incorporate similar sustainable practices, further contributing to recycling and carbon emission reduction targets.
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Contact info
METRONET
METRONET info
info@metronet.wa.gov.au