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Tipping the Balance for Mine Restoration and Waste Recycling
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In November 2023, the recovery of 800 tonnes of used Off-The-Road (OTR) tyres and conveyor belts from a remote region in Western Australia marked a groundbreaking project in Australia. This initiative demonstrates the potential of a circular economy for big rubber product users, like the mining industry, and shows how collaboration between recyclers and rubber product users can overcome perceived barriers to recycling used OTR tyres, conveyor belts.

The End Goal - New Life For Old Tyres
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Not your average road! This new road on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, is more resilient and lasts longer than standard bitumen because it's made with crumb rubber from used OTR tyres and conveyor belts. This road is constructed from over 800 tonnes of used tyres and belts recovered from Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine, now being rehabilitated for the Traditional Owners, the Miriwoong and Gija people. The rehabilitation aims to preserve ecological and cultural heritage values and support future activities like cattle grazing, cultural tourism, and small-scale agriculture.
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Rather than going to waste in landfills or being exported, these rubber products are processed by Carroll Engineering Services in Townsville for use in Queensland roads. This partnership converts waste rubber into valuable resources, creating commercial opportunities, new jobs, and products made in Australia.​​​
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The Innovators
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Rio Tinto, dedicated to improving its waste management partnered with Carroll Engineering Services for the project, The November 2023 trial at the Argyle Diamond Mine aimed to recover used rubber products and inform future recoveries at other sites. This project shows Rio Tinto's effort to reduce waste and landfill disposal.
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Carroll Engineering Services' managed the collection and processing of 800 tonnes of used mining tyres and conveyor belts, turning them into high-quality crumb for infrastructure construction. The trial involved 15 road trains traveling 3,200 kilometers to transport the materials.
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''Collaborating for Resilient Roads''
The trial is a joint endeavor with Sunshine Coast Council, Boral, Allens Asphalt, Puma Energy Bitumen, RMIT University, and Tyre Stewardship Australia. It demonstrates how a circular tyre economy can enable the reuse of rubber products in infrastructure, creating local jobs and business opportunities.
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The Challenge - Breaking Down Barriers ​
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​OTR tyres at their end of life pose significant challenges due to their durability and remote locations. However, viewing the issue through a circular economy lens highlights the potential value of these materials. The trial demonstrates how collaboration and rigorous logistics planning can overcome these challenges, moving Australia closer to a circular economy for OTR tyres and conveyor belts.
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The Result - Circular Economy In Action
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The partnership between Rio Tinto and Carroll Engineering Services has produced high-quality construction material from 800 tonnes of used OTR tyres and conveyor belts. This material is being used by companies like Puma Bitumen, Fulton Hogan, RPQ Group, and Bituminous Products to build new roads in Queensland. This project highlights the environmental and economic benefits of reducing waste, creating jobs, and fostering regional development in Australia.



