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Old tyres could help build tougher roads for the NT's extreme climate
Old tyres could help build tougher roads for the Northern Territory's extreme climate. Roads buckle under the pressure of the Northern Territory's harsh climate, but a group of researchers think repurposing discarded materials may be the solution — not only helping the environment, but government budgets too. (Australia)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries on Jan 23, 2026 at 4:47 PM
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This smacks of greenwashing, as the chemical components of tires are highly toxic and their reuse in other forms exacerbates the problems by extending the useful life of a polluting product. By way of example, 6PPD-quinone is one such ecotoxic component. There are loads more. Tires are also a top source of microplastics, at least here in the US, and I'd wager elsewhere.
Traditional asphalt is no lovely product, either, of course, but replacing one noxious source with another does not improve things.
posted by criticalyeast at 5:13 PM
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I take a lot of photos in abandoned and/or industrial areas and these are by far the most commonly found pieces of refuse. But I share the misgivings about their environmental impact when used in this way. There needs to be safer alternatives.
posted by tommasz at 1:05 PM
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