Northern Beaches Council has joined forces with 15 Sydney councils to drive a new age of sustainable road-making by prioritising the use of recycled crushed glass where feasible as a substitute for natural sand in local roads and footpaths. 

It is all part of the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), Paving the Way initiative. 

Starting in July 2021, Paving the Way is expected to recycle the equivalent of over 80 million glass bottles per year back into local roads, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to planting 14,000 trees per year. The recycled crushed glass is turned into a coarse sand which is used as a substitute for natural sand in asphalt, non-structural concrete and pipe bedding.

Mayor Regan said Council was proud to be part of the largest local government-led procurement of its kind in NSW.  

“Paving the Way is helping to revolutionise our approach to recycling as councils take an increasingly proactive role in the supply chain to keep the cost of recycling down. Northern Beaches Council is proud to be taking the next step with our residents in building a more sustainable and resilient community.

“Our community also plays a pivotal role by ensuring that recycled waste is correctly separated from other recycling.  We need to work together so that the waste going into the yellow-lid bin serves as a valuable resource in building a more sustainable community.

“Together, we are paving the way for tomorrow.” 

Paving the Way is stimulating end markets for recycled glass while supporting local jobs and the development of essential recycling infrastructure in the region.  

Increasing the value of recyclable glass also supports the stabilisation of council recycling costs. 

Councils participating in Paving the Way include Bayside, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, City of Sydney, Georges River, Hornsby, Inner West, Lane Cove, Northern Beaches, Randwick, Ryde, Sutherland, Waverley, Willoughby and Woollahra.