Victoria will soon be home to some of Australia’s most sustainable infrastructure with the launch of a recycling program to boost the use of reused materials in construction projects.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan said the Recycled First program would build new sustainability requirements into future projects under the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority.
“The program will incorporate recycled and reused materials that meet existing standards for road and rail projects,” Ms Allan said.
“Bringing a uniform approach to the use of recycled products and driving innovation in sustainable materials,” she said.
Ms Allan said companies interested in delivering major transport infrastructure projects would be required to demonstrate how they would prioritise recycled and reused materials while maintaining compliance and quality standards.
She said recycled materials would take precedence over brand new materials.
“Work is already underway with current construction partners to ensure more recycled content is being used on major projects, in addition to the new Recycled First requirements,” Ms Allan said.
“The M80 Ring Road, Monash Freeway and South Gippsland Highway upgrades will use more than 20,000 tonnes of recycled materials.”
She said 190 million glass bottles would be used in surfaces on the $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade.
