The Tasmanian Government is increasing the use of recycled rubber from truck tires in road resurfacing this year as part of its commitment to waste reduction and supporting a circular economy.

About 1.3 million tires reach the end of their life each year in Tasmania, most of which ends up in landfill or stockpiles.

As part of Tasmania’s State road maintenance program, some of these tires are now being processed into crumb rubber and blended with bitumen for use as asphalt.

Crumb rubber has already been used on several resurfacing sites in the north of the State, including on the Bass, East Tamar and West Tamar highways. Currently the tires are processed into crumb rubber in Victoria before being blended with bitumen at Fulton Hogan’s plant in Launceston for use in road resurfacing.

The State Government has committed $4 million to establish a crumbing plant in Tasmania to allow the produce crumb rubber locally.

The Tasmanian Government is also providing $4 million over four years to assist industry through the transition to using crumb rubber in road resurfacing and ensuring there is no disruption to the State’s roads program.