In a world first Australian innovation, Australian Councils are increasingly replacing the traditional steel mesh used to reinforce concrete in footpaths with recycled plastic - which would otherwise be sent to landfill or end up in our oceans.
Councils are responsible for building or replacing an estimated 8,000 kilometres of footpaths in Australia each year. Thanks to Queensland engineering firm Fibercon and researchers from James Cook University, councils are now using recycled polypropylene (PP) plastic waste in the form of Emesh to reinforce concrete pavements and other infrastructure.
The Emesh product is 100% recycled polypropylene. To date, 65 tonnes of plastic waste has been recycled, with the potential to recycle 5,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually.
1 tonne of plastic is equivalent to around 20,000 litre bottles, or 120,000 plastic bags.
Townsville City Council was one of the first in Australia to use Emesh, for 3,500m2 of pathway on Magnetic Island.
Senior Project Manager Bob Hickey explained "There are the environmental benefits that come with the use of recycled plastic, but also the fact that it is easy to transport the fibres, especially to Magnetic Island. There are also no problems with corrosion in the saltwater environment. The result was an excellent product with no visible uncontrolled cracking."
There are 7 different types of plastic, Polypropylene (PP) is the second most widely used plastic in the world despite this it is also has the lowest recycling rate – the American Chemistry Council estimates a rate below 1 percent.
PP is also one of only 3 plastic types which floats – forming a major component of the ocean gyres and estimated an 8 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean each year.
In the first global analysis of the production, use and fate of all plastics ever made - humans have created 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics since large-scale production began in the early 1950s - roughly half was produced in just the last 13 years ,and an estimated 79% now resides in landfills or the natural environment.
There are only 3 things which can be done with plastic waste: Recycling, Energy Recovery, or Landfill.
In addition to reduced CO2 outputs and preservation of fossil fuels from steel manufacturing, the Emesh innovation also creates a market for recycled PP.
"Recycling is not just putting materials in a recycling bin at the kerbside: collection is only the start of the process" stated Fibercon CEO Mark Combe. "Markets must exist for recyclable materials and buyers must be found for products made with recyclable materials. With China drastically reducing its import of waste in 2017, finding new uses for recycled plastics is more important than ever."
"Simply by using our Emesh instead of steel reinforcement, Councils can contribute significantly to cleaning up our plastic waste", said Mark.
So next time you see footpaths or other infrastructure in your local area using steel mesh as reinforcement, ask your Council "Why?"
Mark Combe, Fibercon CEO
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: (04) 1464-7077
Website: www.fibercon.com.au; www.emesh.com.au
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcombe/
For Photos see: http://www.emesh.com.au/applications-fibres.php
Fibercon Company Information
Mark Combe (BE Civil ’87 UNSW, MIE, MIPENZ, RPEQ,) established Fibercon in 1996, and specialises in Macro Poly and Steel Fibre Reinforcing of Concrete in infrastructure, footpaths, cycleways, small precast units, roundabouts, and mining applications. In 2015 Fibercon were recognised with a prestigious Shell and Australian Department of Industry, Innovation & Science Innovation Challenge Award for their development of a recycled macro-plastic fibre reinforcing made entirely from industrial plastic wastes. Mark was also awarded the Top 50 Most Innovative Engineers in 2017. Fibercon was the industry sponsor of a three-year PhD program at James Cook University to develop Emesh - whose fibres can reinforce concrete in footpaths, cycleways, shotcrete and small precast elements. The company also tested its Macro Poly and Steel fibres with researchers at UNSW.
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