Crumb Rubber From Off-the-Road Tires Proves Viable in Road Trial
Crumb Rubber Asphalt
A Queensland road trial found crumb rubber produced entirely from off-the-road tires can be substituted into asphalt with performance comparable to conventional tire-derived rubber, alongside potential lifecycle emissions savings.
Taking on a Hard-to-Recycle Stream
Off-the-road tires used in mining, agriculture and construction are difficult to recycle because of their size, durability and remote use locations. Recovery rates are low, and onsite burial and stockpiling remain common. The trial tested whether rubber from these tires could instead become a raw material for local roads.
A Local Circular Supply Chain
The project paired a regional council with recyclers, asphalt producers, bitumen suppliers and a university, with tires sourced from a local quarry and processed into crumb rubber before re-entering council pavements across three sites. It demonstrated a closed loop from end-of-life tire to finished road.
Performance and Aging Results
Twelve-month results found OTR-derived crumb rubber could replace conventional crumb rubber without significant changes to asphalt production or placement. Laboratory testing indicated improved resistance to ultraviolet aging and environmental cracking, though segregation during storage was flagged as a handling issue to resolve.
Durability Drives the Carbon Case
A lifecycle assessment found that although some modified mixes carry higher upfront embodied emissions, longer pavement life and reduced maintenance could lower whole-of-life greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% when service life is extended. The benefit hinges on achieving that durability in practice.
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Unlock a New Market for OTR Tires
Off-the-road tires are an underused feedstock with real recovery value beyond burial and stockpiling.
Klean Industries helps operators assess and build recycling capacity that converts oversized scrap tires into recovered products.
Facing an OTR tire waste stream?
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