Transport Canberra and City Services adopts eMesh in its path network improvements project after a successful trial in 2020-2021.
eMesh is a 100% recycled plastic concrete reinforcement product with siginificant environmental and sustainability outcomes. For example, eMesh reduces carbon emissions by up to 90% when used to replace steel mesh in construction. It also makes construction faster and safer.
It is great that Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) are now making eMesh part of their path network improvements project. This is a result of a successful trial conducted by the TCCS in 2020 – 2021 as per their Annual Report which reads as below.
“The TCCS Infrastructure Delivery team identified an opportunity to trial a more environmentally friendly product for reinforcing concrete used in path construction in 2021-22. The aim of the trial is to explore the use of alternative reinforcement products used in the placement and maintenance of Canberra’s concrete community path network to reduce the environmental impact of our work.
TCCS has committed to a 1,000m2 trial of eMesh, a product which uses 100 per cent recycled commercial plastic in place of standard steel reinforcement in concrete. The trial sites are to be at varying locations and a four-year performance monitoring plan has been established to report on its performance compared to standard steel reinforced concrete community paths.
The cost of utilising eMesh compared to traditional methods is comparable. By exploring the use of recycled products, TCCS is actively working to reduce carbon emissions created through the production of steel and find innovative and sustainable solutions to reduce plastic waste. The product claims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent of traditional methods.
Concrete reinforced with eMesh can be recrushed and used in road base blends. The amount of this type of plastic is well below maximum amount allowed by the Environment Protection Authority. As recycling facilities become more mature the fibres can also be removed after crush through washing plants and the plastic collected and recycled.
The TCCS trial is also assessing the implications for this material in a whole-of-life way by considering how this material can be removed and recycled. A crush test is being undertaken with the assistance of local recyclers to assess the capability of local industry. Infrastructure Planning has been consulted and options for incorporating the use of this type of product into the TCCS standards will be explored based on the outcome of the trial and information that may be able to be provided by other jurisdictions.”
Learn more about how TCCS is incorporating eMesh in their infrastructure projects here.
