Roads to be recycled in Wiltshire
91% of road surfaces are being recycled through this method
Wiltshire is set to benefit from a new 'road recycling' scheme - whereby old road surfaces are being reused to create greener roads.
Wiltshire highways says this type of recycling cuts waste and saves money, as crews reuse the same surface and mix it with a fresh material - instead of sending it to landfill.
A Wiltshire council spokesperson said, "The project is saving a huge 220 tonnes of carbon emissions compared to traditional resurfacing of similar sites, with 91% (9,749 tonnes) of the road surface recycled.
"The process begins with a large machine that removes the existing road surface and pulverises it into small pieces.
"This material is then mixed with a binder and re-laid onto the road, where it can be left to harden over time, or be sealed with a new surface layer.
"All the work is carried out on-site, significantly reducing lorry movements, speeding up the process, and minimising disruption to the local community."
Dave Thomas, Wiltshire's Head of Highways, says the response so far has been positive, "The results from the first scheme have been very good
"We've had some positive feedback about the quality of the material and the finish of the road
"We're going to continue to monitor and see how the road actually performs."
Dave says by reducing the amount of new material being used, they're working towards their carbon net zero goals.