A new environmentally friendly asphalt mix, called TonerPave, is being used on Sydney’s roads, incorporating recycled printer toner for the first time in commercial road construction. Developed by Downer in partnership with Close the Loop, TonerPave was first used in Melbourne in 2013. The toner, blended with recycled oil, reduces energy consumption by 40% compared to standard bitumen, saving 270 kilograms of CO2 per tonne. It also replaces 600 kilograms of bitumen and 400 kilograms of fine aggregates per tonne.

The mix is being used for road resurfacing in areas like Newtown and Darlinghurst, with future projects planned for the CBD. TonerPave is as cost-effective as regular asphalt, but the price is expected to drop as it becomes more widely adopted. The use of toner in asphalt is part of the City of Sydney’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030. If more toner waste is recycled, it could lead to significant increases in asphalt production across Australia.