Implementation of Low Carbon West, the plan for transition to a low carbon economy in the WAGA region, is well underway. WAGA is now researching actions to be undertaken over the next two years, to take account of rapid changes in low emissions sectors providing new opportunities.
Currently different areas of research being considered, many based on Drawdown’s ‘summary of solutions’ list. Drawdown is a non-profit organisation and coalition of scholars, scientists, entrepreneurs and advocates from across the globe, mapping, measuring, modelling and communicating about a collective array of substantive solutions to global warming. Project Drawdown highlights a list of solutions which are viable and have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.
Based on Drawdown’s list, areas of high emissions savings of most relevance to WAGA include promotion of a plant-rich diet, reducing food waste, alternative renewable technology, concrete alternatives and fuel and freight efficiency.
One area of research is road construction and concrete alternatives. Cement generates about 8% of global carbon emissions. Alternatives can provide huge emissions savings.
What are the alternatives?
Geopolymer – is a compound used to replace cement, used in The Zeobond Group’s new product ‘E-crete’. This material can reduce 80-90 percent of emissions. ‘E-crete’ is currently being used by VicRoads, local councils and large housing developments.
Ecoflex – is a NSW-based company which uses recycled tyres to create base material for road infrastructure. This material is capable of reducing up to 70 percent of emissions in this base material.
Green Roads – is an arm of the Alex Fraser Group, which uses recycled materials within the construction of roads. Green Roads recycles more than three million tonnes of construction material every year. The company is based in Laverton. Recycled glass used in Green Roads road construction has been sourced from Wyndham residents’ recycling bins. Also, so far, 563,314 tonnes of recycled materials (glass sand, asphalt and roadbase) has been supplied to build Wyndham’s roads. Green Roads has also just announced the first use of PolyPave, a new recycled plastic mix design, in the City of Yarra.
Reconomy – is Downer’s new business, which use recycled material to create new bituminous materials. 30,000 tonnes of material has been recycled into Downer’s roads business, along with materials such as glass shards, recycled asphalt and green waste.
Article by Siobhan Reilly, final year student in Bachelor of Environment and Society, RMIT University, for WAGA
