Durham Region to pilot recycled materials in road construction
Durham Region is about to launch an innovative project that will test the performance of recycled materials in road construction and contrast those results against conventional construction methods.
The municipality is about to proceed with the second phase of a project that will rebuild a 3.6-kilometre section of Regional Road 18 in Clarington between Concession Road 5 and the bridge south of Kendal.
The first phase of the reconstruction project, which was completed last fall, used conventional reconstruction methods and materials on the north side of the road. The second phase, which should begin this spring, will focus on the south section of the road and will include recycled waste materials. Recycled glass will be incorporated into the granular base, while recycled plastics will be incorporated in the asphalt.
An estimated six tonnes of mixed plastic and 400 tonnes of recycled glass from Durham Region’s Material Recovery Facility as well as 4.5 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres—made from recycled plastic—will be used in the second phase of the work.
The pilot project enables the region to compare the performance and longevity of both approaches, and supports the region’s long-term waste management plan.
“Regional Road 18 is the perfect testing ground for this innovative option of road reconstruction,” said Ramesh Jagannathan, director transportation and field services. “Splitting the road segment in two phases will help clearly assess and evaluate the difference in performance between using conventional methods and recycled materials. We look forward to advancing this pilot project and contributing to a circular economy.”
Assuming the pilot performs well, the region will have the potential to incorporate an estimated 300 tonnes of mixed plastic, 240 tonnes of PET plastic and all recycled glass processed at its material recovery facility through its annual road program.
Doing so would reduce the amount of waste stored in regional facilities and decrease the amount of virgin material that is mined and trucked for road construction, such as aggregate materials. The use of plastics also has the potential to significantly increase the strength, durability and the overall lifecycle of the pavement structure in the region’s road network.
“We are proud to be exploring the use of recycled materials in our road reconstruction projects,” said Durham’s Commissioner of Works, Susan Siopis. “This pilot will help define the potential for sustainable practices and determine the durability of roads that incorporate recycled materials. The opportunity to recycle waste in road construction is just one of the many ways Durham Region is leading the way in waste management.”
Funding for the project was provided by a one-time investment from the Federal Gas Tax.