Pavement recycling is part of managing Brisbane City Council’s road network

Brisbane City Council, Australia’s largest local government authority, maintains a road network of 5,700 km, ranging from residential access streets to major arterial roads. Pavement configurations include granular and cement stabilised granular with thin asphalt surface, concrete and deep strength asphalt. Traffic loadings range from local residential streets through industrial access roads to arterial roads. Approximately 93% of the network is asphalt surfaced and to construct and maintain these roads, Council operates two asphalt plants, two quarries and a recycling facility. As part of Brisbane Vision 2031- Our Clean, Green City Goal of Towards Zero Waste, Council actively uses recycled materials in its pavement works. Recycling processes includes the use of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and crushed glass in asphalt, recycled concrete as a pavement material and strengthening of pavements by stabilising the existing pavement materials. Through successful collaboration with local universities and other research organisations, Council has been able to extend its research into the effective use of these recycled products to understand their performance and the resultant benefits to Council and the community. This paper highlights how pavement recycling is part of the normal practices to sustainably manage Council’s road network.