Greener future for Victoria

With Victoria currently delivering on more than 100 road and rail infrastructure projects across the state, there is opportunity for the state government to increase the use of recycled materials on all major projects.

Recycled First is a new initiative which will see a uniform approach to the existing ‘ad hoc’ use of recycled products on major transport infrastructure projects.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said, “We’re paving a greener future for Victoria’s infrastructure, turning waste into vital materials for our huge transport agenda and getting rubbish out of landfills.”

“Recycled First will boost the demand for reused materials right across our construction sector – driving innovation in sustainable materials and changing the way we think about waste products.”

Companies interested in delivering major transport infrastructure will be required to demonstrate how they will prioritise the use of reused and recycled materials whilst following compliance and industry quality standards.

Major projects currently using recycled materials include:

• More than 20,000 tonnes of recycled materials will be used on the M80 Ring Road, Monash Freeway and South Gippsland Highway upgrades
• 190 million glass bottles will be used in surfaces on the Western Roads Upgrade
• Recycled demolition material was used to build extra lanes along Tullamarine Freeway, as well as the Monash Freeway and M80 Ring Road.

The state government is also reusing materials created by its own projects, with 14,000 tonnes of soil excavated from the Metro Tunnel site in Parkville now being used in pavement layers on roads in Point Cook.