Recycled plastic tram stop project awarded $300,000 Victorian government grant

A project to create modular tram stops out of recycled plastic involving Monash University, Advanced Circular Polymers, Integrated Recycling and Yarra Trams has been awarded a $300,000 grant from Sustainability Victoria.

According to a statement from Monash — which is a long-time collaborator with Integrated Recycling on Duratrack railway sleepers, which incorporate recycled plastic — the project would develop ways to turn kerbside waste plastics into fit-for-purpose tram stop components.

“Our team of researchers will look at a number of suitable options of recycled materials that can be manufactured into a prototype which will then be trial assembled and load tested at the Institute of Railway Technology laboratories,” said Professor Ravi Ravitharan, Monash Institute of Railway Technology’s Director. 

“The development will consider recycled rubber for damping components as well as reinforcement options to achieve the intended design concept.”

Besides the IRT, the Development of Next Generation Tram Stop Platforms Using Recycled Materials project would include input from the university’s Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Arts, Monash University Accident Research Centre and Monash Art, Design and Architecture.

“We’re delighted to collaborate in the development of future tram stops that will recognise the value in repurposing waste plastics in infrastructure applications. By incorporating waste plastics into the concept design we hope to achieve maximum benefits,” added Integrated Recycling’s General Manager Stephen Webster. 

The project would deliver “a circular economy framework involving a complete supply chain of recycled materials” from supply to end use as its outcome, according to Monash. 

ACP head Harry Wang said that value-added recycled products based on advanced manufacturing were essential to generate demand in the recycling sector, “and secure the supply chain for recycled plastics.”

Picture: Yarra Trams

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