Research, Development and Demonstration Grants – Funded projects

Last updated: 1 August 2023
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Number of recipients to date: 29
Total funding awarded to date: $4,108,823
All projects to be completed by: June 2023

Sustainability Victoria's Research, Development and Demonstration grants have provided funding to research institutes and industry to develop new uses for recycled materials such as glass, plastic, paper and cardboard, and rubber.

The funded projects focused on the technical development of new or existing products and/or processes that support the development of recycled material end markets. Funded activities included lab-based research and testing, production and prototyping, and in-field trials and demonstration.

The grants aimed to:

  • support research into product development and performance of recycled materials
  • support development of new or existing products that use high value recycled materials
  • improve product standards and specifications to include recycled material
  • improve market confidence and demand to use recycled materials and products.

Fund recipients

Case studies

A suite of project case studies were developed to highlight the key research, product and commercial outcomes.

Recycled plastic noise barrier walls
This project successfully produced a plastic noise barrier wall using recycled plastic waste to protect residential areas from noise pollution originating from road, rail and other industrial noise sources.
Recycled plastic composite railway sleepers replace timber sleepers for low speed rail applications
This project researched the application of plastic railway sleepers as an alternative to traditional sleepers made from timber, concrete and steel using Duratrack®, a composite sleeper product made from 85% post-consumer plastic waste.
Chemical recycling of mixed polyethylene in a reactor system
This project developed a unique homogenising method in which the need for sorting and separation of mixed plastic waste before being used in any type of recycling process is minimised.
Recycled glass fines as a partial sand replacement in concrete
This project demonstrated that unwashed recycled glass fines of up to 10% by mass can be used as a sand replacement in concrete, fulfilling the fine aggregate requirement as per Australian Standards for Concrete aggregates.
Reconophalt: Australia’s first asphalt road alternative using soft plastics and glass
The Downer Group have achieved a new benchmark in sustainability and innovation, constructing Australia’s first road using a combination of soft plastics and glass, branded as Reconophalt.
New void formers created from 100% recycled agricultural plastic
Void formers are 3D geometric shapes that are strategically placed in concrete structures to reduce the amount of concrete used in construction. The project proved that recycled plastics from used bunker tarp could create an excellent quality void former product.
Recycling silicon from PV panels for making advanced lithium ion batteries
This research project’s purpose was to recover silicon from end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) panels which proved it was an excellent material to produce high performance silicon-graphite hybrid anode for lithium-ion batteries.
Recycled glass for new pavements and roads
This research project successfully trialled a new road base mix for lower trafficked roads that contains a much higher percentage of glass fines.
New access covers for roads and pavements using recycled glass fines
This research project investigated the manufacture of access covers using recycled glass fines.
Increasing the use of crumb rubber asphalt in local government roads
The primary outcome of this project was the development of a new Department of Transport Specification allowing for the incorporation of crumb rubber into asphalt mixes for lightly trafficked roads.
Blends of recycled materials made for backfilling sewage trenches
Excavated trenches for sewerage pipes and infrastructure require backfill material to protect them from decay and damage. This project demonstrated effective use of 100% recycled materials for trench backfill materials.

More information

This grant program is closed, but you can email us if you have any queries.

Contact:

grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au
Back to all funded grants