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Cover of Development of a Specification for Recycled Crushed Glass as a Sand Aggregate Replacement
Development of a Specification for Recycled Crushed Glass as a Sand Aggregate Replacement
  • Publication no: AP-T362-22
  • ISBN: 978-1-922700-20-9
  • Published: 19 January 2022

This report presents the technical basis for the development of the Austroads technical specification and guideline for the use of recycled glass in bedding, backfilling material, concrete, road drainage, embankment fill, and landscaping applications.

Austroads is supporting government initiatives aimed at increasing the use of recycled aggregate from waste glass into transport infrastructure and road assets by promoting harmonised practice and specifications amongst road agencies, state and territory governments and local governments.

A review of current practice showed that existing specifications from Australasia and internationally showed a reasonable level of consistency. Material property data available indicates that good‑quality recycled crushed glass sand generally exhibits similar characteristic to natural sand.

Potential work health and safety and environmental concerns are discussed. The short- and long-term risks can be managed by the mitigation strategies developed for Australasia and already in place.

Finally, an Austroads technical specification for recycled crushed glass sand to be used in bedding, backfilling material, concrete, drainage, embankment fill, and landscaping applications was developed including requirements for the source and quality of the crushed glass, grading and geotechnical properties as well as chemical evaluation.

Watch a detailed webinar with report authors  Dr James Grenfell and Dr Didier Bodin.

  • Summary
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Background
    • 1.2 Purpose
    • 1.3 Project Scope
    • 1.4 Methodology
    • 1.5 Structure of the Report
  • 2. Recycled Crushed Glass
    • 2.1 General
      • 2.1.1 Background
      • 2.1.2 National Waste Policy Action Plan
      • 2.1.3 Recovery Opportunities
    • 2.2 Challenges
      • 2.2.1 Availability and Demand
      • 2.2.2 Contamination
    • 2.3 Engineering Properties of Recycled Crushed Glass
      • 2.3.1 Compaction
      • 2.3.2 Permeability
      • 2.3.3 Specific Gravity
      • 2.3.4 California Bearing Ratio
      • 2.3.5 Electrical Conductivity
      • 2.3.6 Thermal Conductivity – Electrical Application Only
      • 2.3.7 Summary
    • 2.4 Environmental, and Work Health and Safety Considerations
      • 2.4.1 General
      • 2.4.2 Handling and Abrasion Risks
      • 2.4.3 Dust and Airborne Contamination
      • 2.4.4 Chemical Composition and Leachate Potential
      • 2.4.5 Sustainability Benefits
  • 3. Development of Specification for RCG as a Granular Aggregate Replacement
    • 3.1 RCG Specifications in Other Industries
      • 3.1.1 Early Development of RCG Specification
      • 3.1.2 The Water Services Association of Australia Specification
      • 3.1.3 The Metro Train Melbourne Specification
    • 3.2 Chemical and Other Material Requirements
    • 3.3 Overview of International Practice
    • 3.4 Australian and New Zealand Road Agency Specifications
      • 3.4.1 Material Properties for Bedding and Haunching of Drainage Pipes and Conduits
      • 3.4.2 Material Properties for Side Zone and Backfill of Drainage Pipes and Conduits
      • 3.4.3 Material Properties for Bedding and Joint Filling in Segment/Block Paving Applications
      • 3.4.4 Material Properties for Bedding/Filter Material for Drainage Medium Applications
      • 3.4.5 Material Properties for Embankment Fill and Earthworks Applications
      • 3.4.6 Material Properties for Landscaping Applications
      • 3.4.7 Quality Requirements for RCG, as Specified by Road Agencies
    • 3.5 Technical Specification Framework
      • 3.5.1 Structure of the Technical Specification
      • 3.5.2 Scope and Targeted Applications
      • 3.5.3 Source and Cleanliness
      • 3.5.4 Material Physical Properties
      • 3.5.5 Grading Envelopes
      • 3.5.6 Chemical and Contamination Analysis
      • 3.5.7 Testing and Conformance
    • 3.6 Novel Applications for Consideration – Foamed Glass: Domestic and International
  • 4. Development of Specification for RCG as a Fine Aggregate Replacement in Concrete
    • 4.1 Introduction
      • 4.1.1 Advantages of Using RCG in Concrete
    • 4.2 Chemical and Other Material Requirements
    • 4.3 Overview of International Practice
    • 4.4 Australian and New Zealand Specifications
      • 4.4.1 Australian Concrete Standards
      • 4.4.2 Australian Specification for Fine Aggregates in Concrete
      • 4.4.3 Early Development of Australian RCG in Concrete Specification – CSIRO Study
      • 4.4.4 Australian RCG in Concrete Specifications
      • 4.4.5 New Zealand Specifications
    • 4.5 Technical Specification Framework
      • 4.5.1 Structure of the Technical Specification
      • 4.5.2 Scope and Targeted Applications
      • 4.5.3 Source and Cleanliness
      • 4.5.4 Material Properties
      • 4.5.5 Chemical and Contamination Analysis
      • 4.5.6 Testing and Conformance
    • 4.6 Novel Applications for Consideration
      • 4.6.1 Recycled Glass as Supplementary Cementitious Material
      • 4.6.2 Foamed Glass Concrete
  • 5. Conclusions
  • References
  • Appendix A Australian State and Territory Road Agency and New Zealand Requirements for use of RCG
    • A.1 New South Wales – Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW)
    • A.2 Victoria – Department of Transport (DoT)
    • A.3 New Zealand – New Zealand Transport Agency
    • A.4 Queensland – Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)
    • A.5 Western Australia – Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA)
    • A.6 South Australia – Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT)
    • A.7 Tasmania – Department of State Growth (DSG)
    • A.8 Australian Capital Territory – Transport Canberra & City Services (TCCS)
    • A.9 Northern Territory – Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL)
    • A.10 RCG in Australian Rail Infrastructure
  • Appendix B International Practice for RCG in Granular Applications
    • B.1 Virginia Department of Transportation, USA (VDOT)
    • B.2 New York State Department of Transportation, USA (NYSDOT)
    • B.3 South Carolina Department of Transportation, USA (SCDOT)
    • B.4 Oregon Department of Transportation, USA (ODOT)
    • B.5 Washington State Department of Transportation, USA (WSDOT)
    • B.6 Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, USA (State of Alaska DOT&PF)
    • B.7 Idaho Transportation Department, USA (ITD)
    • B.8 State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, USA (ConnDOT)
    • B.9 Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, Canada
    • B.10 Department of Transport, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Appendix C Current Bedding Sand, Drainage, Embankment Fill, and Landscaping Specifications and Applications
    • C.1 New South Wales – Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW)
    • C.2 New South Wales – IPWEA
    • C.3 Victoria – Department of Transport (DoT)
    • C.4 New Zealand
    • C.5 Queensland – Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR)
    • C.6 Western Australia – Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA)
    • C.7 South Australia – Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT)
    • C.8 Tasmania – Department of State Growth (DSG)
    • C.9 Australian Capital Territory – Transport Canberra & City Services (TCCS)
    • C.10 Northern Territory – Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL)
  • Appendix D Particle Size Distribution Limits from Specifications
    • D.1 General
    • D.2 Bedding and Haunch Material Grading Comparison
    • D.3 Side and Backfill Material Grading Comparison
  • Appendix E Case Studies – Granular Applications
    • E.1 Recovery and Processing
    • E.2 International Specification Development
      • E.2.1 Clean Washington Center (CWC), USA
      • E.2.2 Hong Kong
      • E.2.3 Indiana, USA
    • E.3 International Use as Bedding and Backfill Material
      • E.3.1 Pipe Backfill Project, PennDOT Highway Project, Pennsylvania, USA
      • E.3.2 Glass Cullet as Fill/Bedding Material, Washington, USA
      • E.3.3 RCG as a Bedding Sand for Slabs & Pavers, United Kingdom
    • E.4 Use of RCG in Drainage, Embankment Fill, and Landscaping Applications
      • E.4.1 Murrawal Rd, Central Coast Council, New South Wales
      • E.4.2 Crushed Glass-dredged Material Blends in the Embankment and Structural Fill Applications,
      • USACE-Philadelphia, USA
      • E.4.3 Recycled Glass in Backfill Applications, Wisconsin, USA
      • E.4.4 Use of RCG in Topsoil Mixes, Washington State, USA
  • Appendix F Australian and New Zealand Requirements for Applications in Concrete
    • F.1 New South Wales – Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW)
    • F.2 Victoria – Department of Transport (DoT)
    • F.3 Queensland – Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR)
    • F.4 Western Australia – Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA)
    • F.5 South Australia – Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT)
    • F.6 Tasmania – Department of State Growth (DSG)
    • F.7 Australian Capital Territory – Transport Canberra & City Services (TCCS)
    • F.8 Northern Territory – Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL)
  • Appendix G International Requirements for Applications in Concrete
    • G.1 Europe
    • G.2 USA
    • G.2.1 Oregon Department of Transportation, USA (ODOT)
    • G.2.2 State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, USA (ConnDOT)
    • G.3 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
    • G.4 International Specifications – Other
  • Appendix H Case Studies – Concrete Applications
    • H.1 Use of RCG in Concrete
      • H.1.1 Concrete Footpath Field Trial with Crushed Glass and Recycled Plastic, Victoria
      • H.1.2 RCG in Concrete Footpath Field Trials in Cairns, Queensland
      • H.1.3 RCG in Concrete Pavements in Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Upgrade Project, New
      • South Wales
      • H.1.4 RCG in Concrete Pavements, Waverley Council, New South Wales
      • H.1.5 Recycled Glass and Powdered Glass in Concrete Pavement in South of Sydney, New South
      • Wales
      • H.1.6 RCG in Footpath Concrete Trial – Bryce St, St Lucia, Brisbane
      • H.1.7 RCG in Footpath Concrete Thesis – Brisbane
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