Waste Tyre Reinforcement of Construction Materials Within Mining Operations

OBJECTIVES

To make underground mining more sustainable by using waste tyres in cemented rock fill

To test how tyre waste behaves in this material through lab and on-site trials

To find the best amount and shape of tyre rubber to add for the most stable result

Team

Susanga Costa

Lead Researcher

Mithushi Wickramasinghe

PhD

Partners

Deakin University

Ballarat Gold Mine

Tyre Stewardship Australia

TyreCycle

Progress

SUMMARY

This project, led by Deakin in partnership with RMIT, is exploring how waste tyres can be used as a construction material in underground mines, with Ballarat Gold Mine as the end user and Tyre Stewardship Australia as the key industry partner. So far, the team has completed lab trials and numerical modelling to assess performance, with findings now feeding into related projects on soil stabilisation and material modelling. A report on recycling solid plastic waste has also been finalised and is currently under review by Tyre Stewardship Council to assess its suitability.

OPPORTUNITIES

New funding avenues through sustainable mining and recycling grants

Offers a practical way to reduce tyre waste and improve underground mine fill materials

Stronger partnerships between universities, industry and government in mining innovation