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From Tread to Tomorrow: How Australian Businesses Can Turn Old Tyres into Roads, Cement and Net-Zero Wins

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by

Lorraine Dunmall
in

Why tyres are more than just rubber

If you’re like most people, the only time you think about tyres is when you’re at the mechanic or tyre shop. Grip, tread life, cost – that’s about it. But once those tyres wear out, they don’t just disappear. They enter Australia’s waste stream, and the story from there isn’t always a good one.

Every year, Australia generates over half a million tonnes of end-of-life tyres (Tyre Stewardship Australia). Too many are still shredded and landfilled, stockpiled on mine sites, or shipped offshore to uncertain fates. That’s not only a waste of resources, but it also undermines Australia’s broader environmental goals, especially the national challenge to reach Net Zero by 2050.

But here’s the encouraging bit: across the country, companies, councils and researchers are finding ways to turn old tyres into valuable materials. From crumb rubber in asphalt to tyre-derived fuel in cement kilns, these pathways show what’s possible when waste is treated as a resource.

I’m not an expert, but I find this area fascinating. So, in this post I want to share what I’ve learnt: who’s leading the way, why it matters for businesses of all sizes, and how you can plug into these solutions.

The scale of the tyre challenge in Australia

Let’s start with the numbers. In 2023–24, Australia produced around 537,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres. About 66% were “recovered” in some form, meaning they didn’t just sit in a dump, but only 26% were actually recycled into circular, value-added products (Tyre Stewardship Australia Material Flow Analysis).

Some categories are particularly challenging:

  • Off-the-road (OTR) tyres from mining and agriculture: fewer than 5% are genuinely recycled. How many are still buried on site?
  • Passenger and truck tyres: recovery is higher (~87%), but a big chunk still goes to low-value uses or offshore markets rather than back into roads, playgrounds, or new materials.

So yes, recovery is happening but the real opportunity is to boost circular recycling into products that lock in value and cut emissions.

Why tyres matter for Net Zero 2050

Net Zero 2050 isn’t just about clean energy and electric cars. It’s also about materials and reducing the emissions tied up in producing, using, and discarding them. Tyres are a perfect example:

  • Making tyres from virgin rubber, steel and carbon black is energy-intensive and emits a lot of CO₂.
  • Dumping or poorly burning tyres causes pollution, releases greenhouse gases, and wastes those embodied emissions.
  • Recycling tyres into asphalt, cement, or other products means avoiding virgin inputs, extending product life, and sometimes displacing higher-carbon fuels like coal.

For businesses, this links directly to Scope 3 emissions (supply chain and disposal impacts). Choosing better tyre pathways isn’t just good for the planet — it’s something you can measure, report, and use to strengthen your sustainability story.

Turning old tyres into new roads

One of the most promising uses for recycled tyres in Australia is asphalt. Old tyres are processed into crumb rubber (a coarse granulate) or micronised rubber powder (MRP) (a finer product). These can be blended into bitumen to make rubber-modified asphalt.

Why is this exciting?

  • Rubberised asphalt can last longer, resist cracking, and reduce road noise.
  • It gives roads a second purpose as a sink for millions of old tyres.
  • It creates local demand, keeping recycled material in Australia rather than shipping it overseas.

What asphalt companies are doing in Australia

Several asphalt and road construction companies are already trialing and scaling crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) across the country:

  • COLAS Australia — Uses recycled tyre rubber in asphalt mixes and spray seals, recycling over a million tyres annually. Their Queensland project (Nambour Connection Road / Emu Mountain Road) used an 18% crumb rubber binder, produced as warm mix asphalt to reduce emissions.
  • Boral — Recently launched asphalt made from Off-the-Road (OTR) tyres. Trials with Sunshine Coast Council resurfaced 7,000 m² of roads using rubber equivalent to ~25 earthmover tyres. Claimed to double lifespan compared to conventional surfacing.
  • VicRoads / Victoria DOT with ARRB — Ran major trials on East Boundary Road (Bentleigh). Results informed new specifications, including DoT Section 422 (dated 2021), allowing crumb rubber asphalt on lightly trafficked roads.
  • SSROC + Boral — A collaboration between Sydney councils and Boral, paving streets with crumbed rubber asphalt mixes at varying levels, with performance monitoring underway.
  • Topcoat Asphalt + Tyre Stewardship Australia — Completed trials across six South Australian councils, demonstrating the benefits of crumb rubber asphalt and building capacity for a dedicated facility in Lonsdale.

Benefits asphalt companies report include:

  • Greater pavement durability and flexibility, reducing cracking.
  • Longer lifecycle and reduced maintenance costs.
  • Noise reduction in urban environments.
  • Lower emissions when warm-mix processes are used.
  • Local economic gains through tyre recycling markets.

This shows asphalt companies aren’t just experimenting they are moving towards mainstreaming crumb rubber mixes, provided governments and councils can specify and support recycled content.

Cement kilns: tyres as alternative fuel

The other big pathway is tyre-derived fuel (TDF). In high-temperature cement kilns, shredded tyres can replace a portion of coal. The steel content is incorporated into the clinker, and combustion is very complete under controlled conditions.

Done well, this offers real carbon benefits — displacing fossil fuels and cutting waste. Done poorly, it raises emissions and community concerns. That’s why strong controls and transparency are critical.

Who’s active here?

  • Cement Australia has announced upgrades at its Railton plant in Tasmania to enable co-processing of alternative fuels including TDF.
  • Holcim Australia is working on alternative fuel strategies as part of its global decarbonisation goals.
  • Boral has received federal support to adapt kiln facilities, positioning itself to use more alternative fuels.

For businesses generating large tyre volumes (fleets, mining, agriculture), working with accredited collectors who channel tyres into these pathways can be a credible disposal option.

Benefits beyond emissions

Recycling tyres into roads and cement isn’t just about carbon savings:

  • Better infrastructure — rubberised asphalt looks to outperform in durability and noise reduction.
  • Economic resilience — local tyre recycling builds domestic supply chains and jobs.
  • Reduced fire risk — recycling prevents dangerous stockpiles.
  • Community confidence — visible use in roads demonstrates circular economy in action.

What businesses can do right now

You don’t need to be a roadbuilder or cement maker to make a difference. Any business that buys, uses, or disposes of tyres can drive better outcomes:

  1. Audit tyre use — track how many tyres you use and where they end up.
  2. Use accredited collectors — Tyre Stewardship Australia lists accredited collectors/recyclers.
  3. Ask suppliers questions — when buying tyres or tendering, ask how old tyres are handled.
  4. Specify recycled content — Is it time councils and projects mandated rubberised asphalt in procurement?
  5. Partner with recyclers — e.g. Tyrecycle for OTR and crumb rubber.
  6. Share your results — include tyre recycling metrics in ESG reports.

Challenges to be aware of

  • Transport distances — bulky tyres can rack up emissions; local options are better.
  • Market demand — crumb rubber only scales if councils/road agencies specify it.
  • Quality standards — recycled mixes must meet strict specs.
  • Community trust — particularly important for TDF in kilns.

Companies and resources to explore

Bigger picture: circular economy and Net Zero

Recycling tyres into asphalt and cement isn’t the whole story — but it’s a visible, scalable part of Australia’s circular economy shift. Every kilometre of crumb rubber road and every kiln tonne of coal replaced is a step towards Net Zero.

If thousands of businesses — from councils to contractors to fleets — support these pathways, the effect compounds. Net Zero 2050 depends on rethinking waste as a resource and backing the innovators already delivering solutions.

Closing thought

You don’t need to be an expert to help. Just ask questions, choose suppliers wisely, and look for ways to bring recycled tyres into your business whether through the roads you drive on, the tyres you dispose of, or the products you procure.

Old tyres aren’t the end of the road. They’re the start of a better one.

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