The 1000km TonerPlas Challenge launched in September is well underway, with 199 tonnes of post consumer waste already diverted from landfill, going instead into 40km of high performance asphalt road.
TonerPlas 1000km challenge
The 1000km challenge is to lay 1000 kilometres of road containing TonerPlas across Australia. TonerPlas is Close the Loop’s latest development of asphalt additives, a key ingredient to making high performance asphalt roads that last longer and require less maintenance than traditional asphalt. It is made from mixed soft plastics from the REDcycle collection program at all Coles and Woolworths stores, and waste toner powder from the Close the Loop cartridge collection programs including Cartridges 4 Planet Ark.
This formulated product is then melted into the asphalt mix with partner Downer Group who adds recycled glass and recycled asphalt pavement to create lower carbon, higher quality roads.
Waste diverted from landfill
Every kilometre of road paved with plastic and glass modified asphalt will use approximately:
- * 530,000 plastic shopping bag equivalents
- * 168,000 glass bottle equivalents
- * Waste toner from 12,500 printer cartridges
- * 20% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP)
Compared to standard VicRoads specified asphalt, plastic and glass modified asphalt has:
- * 65% improvement in fatigue life for longer lasting pavement
- * Superior deformation resistance for withstanding heavy vehicular traffic
- * Greater than 25% total recycled material content
In Australia alone, more than 300,000 tonnes of soft plastic are dumped into landfills every year. Not only is this bad for the environment it is a monumental waste of a valuable resource that can be re-used and re-purposed into new products.
Society and our planet demand more, innovative ideas and creative, hands on recycling solutions. Like TonerPlas, Wanless is commitment to a sustainable future and is proud of its 80% recycling rate and champions these exciting environmental initiatives.
You can find out more at www.1000kmchallenge.net or check out the video below for more information.