By Tom Austin-Morgan

The UK government pledged in December 2020 to achieve net zero by 2050, with an interim target of 68% carbon reduction by 2030. Local authorities have a big part in this since they use a significant amount of road materials, which increases waste, energy use, and CO2 emissions. Many are currently investigating how they might meet their ambitious carbon reduction objectives by adjusting the sourcing, manufacture, and recycling of these products, and are looking to mimic success stories such as in Hampshire.

A purpose-built recycling plant was established by Hampshire County Council in partnership with Milestone Infrastructure, OCL Regeneration, and Hampshire Highways to generate new road materials. The location itself, which was an asphalt plant until the late 1990s, underwent a full renovation to comply with current environmental regulations. Indeed, a large portion of the material stored at the depot was recycled and used again in the plant's reconstruction.

The primary goal of the Micheldever recycling facility is to recycle Asphalt Wastes Containing Coal Tar (AWCCT) from countywide road construction projects. These materials are transformed into products that cut carbon emissions by up to 50% compared to traditional hot asphalt. The facility processes the waste by crushing, screening, blending, and mixing it to create more sustainable materials.

“We recover materials from highways during resurfacing and repair projects, bind them with new cement and asphalt, and make them ready for reuse in roadways,” explains Matthew Riches, Operations Director at Milestone. “This allows us to recycle aggregates already present in local roads, reducing the need to extract new materials from quarries, which has a substantial positive impact on carbon emissions.”

Image: Micheldever Depot; credit: Milestone Infrastructure

Making a big difference

The facility, which became fully operational in May 2021, recycles 35,000 tonnes of construction waste into high-standard road materials and reduces carbon emissions by 665 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. In addition to its environmental benefits, the facility is cost-effective, as it helps avoid waste disposal costs and reduces fuel and transport expenses tied to material disposal.

OCL Regeneration Director, Stuart Gready, enthuses: “The Micheldever project has steadily progressed and now serves as a prime example of how to not only neutralise but actively reduce the carbon impact of highways.”

And with more than 5,500 miles of roads and footpaths, Hampshire County Council has been lowering its carbon footprint and helping the wider net zero cause for over three years.

Former Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Transport, and the Environment at the time of the project noted: “Reusing material from road repairs, processing it in an environmentally friendly way, and applying it back to Hampshire's roads is a significant step forward. It helps us maintain our 5,500 miles of roads while also reducing our carbon footprint, advancing our climate goals.”

Register for the free virtual CIHT webinar ‘Green Fortnight’ (Thursday 7th November) to discover and discuss the actions needed by everyone working in highways and transportation to meet climate change challenges.