Standards Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR), has released a new report that steers industry and government towards the increase of recycled content in roads.

Australia faces barriers to the uptake of recycled content in roads and the environmental, economic and performance benefits that would bring.

The report outlines a roadmap to address the primary roadblocks and calls on industry and government to form a partnership to make progress.

The Standards to facilitate the use of recycled material in road construction report identifies ways to advance the use of recycled materials in roads, investigates if standards inhibit their use and explores areas where Australian Standards can facilitate the transition to a circular economy.

The report found varying specifications between jurisdictions and a lack of nationally harmonised performance-based standards to be significant barriers to the uptake of recycled content in roads. Other barriers include gaps in procurement policies and a lack of maturity in some materials markets.

“Using recycled content in roads has considerable benefits, including a reduction in environmental impact, improved performance of materials, cost savings, and job creation,” Standards Australia head of engagement and strategic delivery Roland Terry-Lloyd says.

“Standards have a crucial role to play in addressing these barriers and facilitating the transition to a circular economy by establishing common definitions, measurements, and guidelines for industry, government, and consumers.”

Recommendations outlined in the report include:

• Increasing collaboration between the Australian Government, Standards Australia and industry to create new standards or modify existing standards; and
• Create guidance material on the use of recycled materials in road construction, its benefits and the enabling standards to improve awareness and overcome misconceptions.

The report notes that Standards Australia has already begun implementing the recommendations made, and amendments to existing standards are in train.

“Australia has an abundance of fit-for-purpose, high-performance recycled material that can readily be used in roads, which also deliver great environmental and social outcomes,” ACOR chief executive officer Suzanne Toumbourou says.

“We have been delighted to work with Standards Australia to navigate the barriers to uptake of recycled materials in roads and explore how standards can support industry to overcome these barriers.”

In addition to implementing the recommendations listed above, Standards Australia will form an expert committee to inform policy, and will then seek to collaborate with state and federal governments to take action.