A pioneering collaboration between SA Water, John Holland Guidera O’Connor Joint Venture (JHGO JV) and ResourceCo has led to South Australia’s water utility using ResourceCo’s recycled glass sand as pipe bedding at a groundbreaking project in Adelaide’s western suburbs.
ResourceCo Environmental Development Manager Mitchell Bacon said the use of recycled glass sand can significantly reduce the reliance on finite traditional materials, while also diverting waste glass from landfill, contributing to a more circular economy.
“The use of recycled glass sand minimises the reliance on raw quarry material, reducing the need for further excavation and preserving natural resources,” he said.
“This shift towards using recycled materials also promotes a circular economy by diverting over 20,000t of unrecyclable kerbside glass from landfills each year and giving it a new purpose in construction projects.
“This initiative also brings a new product into the local market, supporting the growth of the recycling industry.”
John Holland Environment and Sustainability Manager – Water Solutions, Nicole Argent, said the goal for the project goes beyond obtaining a one-off dispensation to use recycled glass sand.
“Our aim is to work with infrastructure partners to develop technical standards that permit the use of this recycled material in all projects,” she said.
“This aligns with the growing global focus on sustainable construction practices and the importance of incorporating recycled materials into infrastructure projects.
“The adoption of recycled glass sand in the Water Solutions Project and advocating for its use in all projects, is driving positive change and influencing the industry’s approach to sustainability in SA.”
Bacon said the use of recycled glass sand can also contribute to reducing scope 3 emissions and reducing environmental impacts related to land use.
“Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur as a result of a company’s activities but are generated from sources not owned or controlled by the company,” he said.
“By minimising the need for new quarry materials through the use of recycled glass sand, the project can reduce the carbon and environmental footprint associated with sourcing and transporting traditional construction materials.”
“As part of the project ResourceCo has also developed an Environmental Product Declaration which is an independently verified set of environmental data, demonstrating the environmental impacts of the product, enabling end users to be provided data for their emissions and impacts tracking and be confident in the veracity of the information.
“By actively promoting the use of recycled materials and reducing scope 3 emissions, infrastructure development leaders like SA Water are demonstrating their dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable construction practices.
“By incorporating recycled glass sand into the project, the Water South Project takes a significant step towards achieving sustainability goals, minimizing environmental impact, and promoting the circular economy.”
Bacon commended the commitment for all partners in this project, with ResourceCo, JHGO JV and SA Water overcoming a key challenge for recycled products, material procurement.
“SA Water’s willingness to prepare draft standards for the use of the material is a testament to their commitment to sustainability,” he said.
“One of the initial challenges often faced with new recycled products is working with ‘first mover’ partner. It involves extensive research and evaluation of product performance and assessment against technical standards.
“This partnership has been a has meant that we’ve been able to work together to develop a recycled product that is of a suitable quality and sustainable standard. It’s fantastic to now be at the point where this material is being used in SA for the first time.”
This was a joint project between ResourceCo, SA Water and John Holland Guidera O’Connor Joint Venture, and was made possible thanks to a Circular Economy Market Development Grant from Green Industries SA.
