Central Coast Council is increasingly using recycled tyres in the construction and maintenance of roads across the region.

Council Director Roads, Transport, Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said Council is using a product that is helping to save thousands of tonnes of tyres from ending up in landfill.

“We take a crumb rubber binder made from 100 percent recycled Australian tyres and mix this with bitumen and asphalt for use in spray sealing and asphalt works across the Central Coast,” Mr Bolgoff said.

“It is fantastic to be able to build and improve our road network with a product that is recycling some of the 56 million used tyres generated in Australia each year.”

Mr Bolgoff said the quality of the recycled product is equivalent or superior to traditional bitumen and asphalt.

“Asphalt and spray sealed road surfaces mixed with used tyres are more elastic, durable and crack-resistant, which increases the longevity of the road.

“Our supplier takes approximately 25 used truck tyres and creates one tonne of crumb rubber binder, which we use across the Coast’s 2,200 kilometre network of roads.

“The product we are using is predominately made from truck tyres as they contain less steel and other fibres compared to car tyres.” 

Mayor Smith said Council is committed to implementing waste-saving initiatives across all areas.

“Using recycled tyres to build Central Coast roads is a great example of how we can deliver essential projects and maintenance using green and sustainable methods.”