Course Description

Put end-of-life tyres to work on your road network.

Developed in partnership with Tyre Stewardship Australia, this course introduces the essential concepts of crumb rubber and its role in sustainable road construction. Crumb rubber can divert tyres from landfill, support circular-economy targets and improve the performance of asphalt and sprayed seals. But successful adoption takes more than choosing a recycled product. It requires organisational support, strong partnerships, informed procurement and well-planned delivery.

The Fundamentals of Crumb Rubber takes local-government practitioners through the entire process. Start by building the case for change. Connect crumb-rubber use with sustainability policies, procurement objectives and measurable organisational targets. Assess potential performance, environmental and whole-of-life benefits – while accounting for cost, availability, transport distances and project-specific constraints. Then move from intent to implementation. Select suitable treatments, engage suppliers and research partners, identify funding opportunities and prepare a practical project plan. Explore relevant specifications, TSA accreditation, product options, contract requirements and WHS considerations before work begins. The course also covers what happens on site.

Learn how to select and prepare trial locations, establish quality controls, document construction and monitor long-term performance. Real council and industry case studies demonstrate how partnerships, shared trials and evidence-based reporting can accelerate adoption.

Finally, use the results to move successful crumb-rubber products beyond one-off trials. Embed them in procurement policies, future works programs and business-as-usual road construction.

Developed for local government with insights from NTRO and Tyre Stewardship Australia, this course connects sustainability ambition with practical road delivery. Enrol now and take your crumb-rubber project from first conversation to lasting network-wide adoption.

Course structure

Getting started – understand the course goals, learning journey and available resources.
Embracing sustainability – strengthen sustainable procurement, set targets and build leadership support.
Crumb-rubber essentials – follow the journey from end-of-life tyre to road-building material and explore its applications.
Assessing value – compare potential performance, environmental and economic benefits with the limitations and risks.
Building partnerships – work with TSA, research organisations, suppliers and neighbouring councils.
Effective project planning – select treatments, develop timelines and identify funding opportunities.
Material selection, design and procurement – evaluate products, apply specifications and integrate requirements into contracts.
Construction and quality control – prepare sites, manage construction quality and establish performance monitoring.
Case studies – examine successful council and industry projects and the lessons they generated.
Moving forward – report results, share knowledge and embed successful products into ongoing works programs.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain how crumb-rubber road products support tyre recovery, circular-economy objectives and local-government sustainability targets.
Identify crumb-rubber materials and applications, including modified binders, asphalt and sprayed seals.
Assess product options using performance, whole-of-life cost, environmental impact, availability and project risk.
Build internal support and partnerships with suppliers, research organisations, funding bodies, TSA and other councils.
Plan and procure crumb-rubber projects using appropriate treatments, specifications, contract requirements and accredited suppliers.
Establish construction, WHS, quality-control and performance-monitoring requirements.
Document and communicate results, apply lessons learned and integrate successful products into future works programs.

Topics Covered

End-of-life tyres and resource recovery
Circular-economy principles
Sustainable procurement
Organisational sustainability targets
Leadership engagement and internal support
State and national sustainability drivers
Crumb-rubber production and supply chains
Tyre-derived materials
Crumb-rubber modified binders
Crumb-rubber asphalt
Crumb rubber in sprayed seals
Emerging transport applications
Performance and durability benefits
Life Cycle Assessment
Whole-of-life costs
Environmental and economic impacts
Product limitations and risk controls
TSA and the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme
TSA accreditation
Research and industry partnerships
Collaboration between councils
Treatment and site selection
Trial and project planning
Funding opportunities
Grant applications
Supplier engagement
Product and material evaluation
Australian specifications and standards
Contract and procurement requirements
WHS and environmental considerations
Construction-site preparation
Quality plans and Inspection and Test Plans
Construction quality control
Performance monitoring
Reporting and knowledge sharing
Council and industry case studies
Business-as-usual adoption

This course is for:

Local-government engineers
Asset and road managers
Sustainability and procurement professionals
Technical officers
Contract managers
Project and program managers
Field engineers
Construction supervisors and other practitioners involved in planning or delivering council roadworks.

Course price

Course pricing designed to support your learning journey!

Enrol now