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Cover of Passenger Cars and other Non-truck Tyres Crumb Rubber in Asphalt: National Market Analysis, Review of Industry Practices and Technology Transfer
Passenger Cars and other Non-truck Tyres Crumb Rubber in Asphalt: National Market Analysis, Review of Industry Practices and Technology Transfer
  • Publication no: AP-R681-22
  • ISBN: 978-1-922700-62-9
  • Published: 15 December 2022

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the fate of end-of-life tyres, the tyre recycling industry in Australia and New Zealand, the specifications for the use of crumb rubber in road applications and the potential benefits of other-than-truck tyres crumb rubber to be utilised in asphalt roads. The report presents data sets that show annual production volumes, infrastructure capabilities, type of tyres processed, materials recovery from end-of-life tyres and crumb rubber prices.

A series of interviews with industry representatives dealing with crumb rubber (e.g., tyre recyclers, binder suppliers and asphalt contractors) was held to help inform the report outcomes. The responses were analysed to assess the current recycling situation in Australia and New Zealand and identify infrastructure capabilities, constraints, and possible opportunities in this sector.

Austroads project, ‘Passenger cars and other non-truck tyres crumb rubber in asphalt’, explores the potential use of non-truck tyres crumb rubber in road mixes. The project focuses on the current ability of the recycling industry to recycle other-than-truck tyres to produce crumb rubber, the technological barriers and solutions, evaluation of the current specifications for asphalt roads and the analysis of current practices from contractors and suppliers. The outcomes from this report will be used to develop a field trial and monitoring plan in the consequent phases of the project.

Watch a detailed overview with Anna D'Angelo from the Australian Flexible Pavement Association and Associate Professor Filippo Giustozzi from RMIT.

  • Summary
  • Acronyms
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Purpose of the Study
    • 1.2 Scope of the Study
    • 1.3 Methodology
  • 2. End-of-life Tyres in Australia and New Zealand
    • 2.1 The Export Ban
    • 2.2 What’s in a Tyre
    • 2.3 Truck Tyres
    • 2.4 Passenger Car Tyres
    • 2.5 Off-the-road Tyres (OTR)
    • 2.6 Other Sources of Rubber
  • 3. Tyre Recycling Industry Survey
    • 3.1 Locations of Recycling Plants across Australia and New Zealand
    • 3.2 Recycling Capacity and Size of the Companies
    • 3.3 Tyres Collection Schemes
    • 3.4 Crumb Rubber Production Process
      • 3.4.1 Collection
      • 3.4.2 Shredding and Removal of Non-rubber Content
      • 3.4.3 Final Product
    • 3.5 Recycling Equipment: Possibilities and Current Constraints
    • 3.6 Type of Processed Tyres and Material Recovery Rate
    • 3.7 Quality Control Measures
    • 3.8 Price of Recycled Tyre Rubber Products
    • 3.9 Recycling Plants Upscaling and Upgrading
    • 3.10 Summary of the Industry Survey
  • 4. Current Specifications for Crumb Rubber, Crumb Rubber Asphalt and Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen in Australia and New Zealand
    • 4.1 Road Authorities
  • 5. What is the Source of Recycled Tyres in my Asphalt?
    • 5.1 The Road Authority Perspective
    • 5.2 The Industry Perspective
    • 5.3 The Tyre Recycler's Perspective
    • 5.4 Opportunities and Unknowns
  • 6. Other-than-truck Tyres Crumb Rubber Asphalt Demonstration Trial
  • 7. Conclusions
  • References
  • Appendix A Recycling Companies Consulted
  • Appendix B Industry Survey Questions
  • Appendix C Images of Rubber Particles During the Recycling Process
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