Central Coast’s first roads built with recycled soft plastics

Paving the way for sustainable cities with recycled roads

Recycled soft plastics, glass bottles, toner and pavement are being turned into roads in the Central Coast region through a collaboration between Plastic Police®, Central Coast Council, Close the Loop Australia and Downer Group.

On Monday 20th May, Plastic Police® attended the pouring of the first recycled road in the Central Coast region, at Boomerang Road, Long Jetty.

The 600m road poured in Long Jetty contained:
• 631,000 recycled plastic bag equivalents
• 117,000 recycled glass bottles
• toner from 14,400 used printer cartridges and
• 160 tonnes of recycled asphalt pavement

Central Coast Council has implemented the Plastic Police® program to establish the local collection of soft plastics for recycling into ‘Reconophalt’, a lower carbon, longer lasting asphalt product that can be infinitely recycled.

Using this road surfacing product will help save thousands of tonnes of waste from ending up in landfill.

Mayor Jane Smith said Council’s use of recycled products in road construction demonstrates economic, social and environmental value for the Central Coast.

“This is a major milestone for Council and the Coast and an outstanding example of how infrastructure can be delivered using green and sustainable methods.” She said.

Through its collaboration, Plastic Police® and Central Coast Council aim to educate the community about the importance of reducing soft plastic waste first and foremost and responsibly recycling the rest. Opportunities for the public to drop off their soft plastics for reuse into local roads will be announced shortly by Central Coast Council.

Plastic Police® Founder, Samantha Cross, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Central Coast Council on this truly circular economy initiative.”

“We need to work together as a community to reduce soft plastic waste, recycle it through Plastic Police® and close the loop on this waste stream in sustainable and innovative ways.”

“We are proud to partner with Central Coast Council to see soft plastics kept out of landfill, out of the environment and our oceans. We look forward to seeing soft plastics turned into more local roads in the near future.” She said.

The next major project to be delivered in the Central Coast region using Reconophalt is Wards Hill Road, Empire Bay, a $296,000 project to stabilise and seal a 260-metre section of road.