Downer has partnered with a Queensland council to launch a spray seal binder for roads made from recycled tyre rubber and print cartridge toner.
Tonerseal is a high performance spray seal product that pioneers blending bitumen with waste items, such as toner from printer cartridges and crumb rubber from used tyres, that would typically be stockpiled or sent to landfill.
Moreton Bay Regional Council worked with Downer to provide a road on which to trial the innovative and sustainable spray seal binder.
“Sustainability is one of our key policies at Moreton Bay Regional Council and it is something that we strive to achieve in every decision we make, so we are pleased to partner with Downer and provide a location for this trial,” said Councillor Mike Charlton, Moreton Bay’s Acting Mayor.
“I congratulate Downer for driving sustainable and environmentally friendly innovation.”
Downer has worked closely with Victoria-based Close the Loop to develop Tonerseal, which allows for a higher level and a more diverse mix of recycled materials to be incorporated. It previously worked with the recycling specialist to create Tonerpave, its first road product using waste toner.
“Our collaborative partnership with Downer has allowed us to continually improve the way we design and manufacture sustainable products that in turn ensures that we not only save on the need to use raw materials, but also lowers our CO2 footprint,” said Peter Tamblyn, Close the Loop’s Sales & Marketing Manager Asia Pacific.
Dante Cremasco, Executive General Manager at Downer Road Services, explained that current best practice in Australia for modified spray seal binders is to use between 15 and 18 per cent recycled crumb rubber. With Tonerseal, however, the company has shown that with the right technology and capability it can produce a superior product that uses new recycled materials in levels greater than current best practice.
“More importantly, Tonerseal demonstrates that with continued industry focus on recycled material availability, process improvements for large scale production, partnerships with progressive and environmentally conscious governments, suppliers and customers, we can continue setting new benchmarks in best practice,” Mr Cremasco said.
More information on Tonerseal is available from the Downer website.
Photo shows left to right: Peter Tamblyn (Close the Loop Sales & Marketing Manager Asia Pacific), Dante Cremasco (Executive General Manager, Downer Road Services), Mike Charlton (Acting Mayor of Moreton Bay Regional Council), and Adrian Raedel (Councillor, Moreton Bay Regional Council).