In 2021, Victoria used 2,100 tons of recycled road base to rebuild the Hume Freeway. 5 years later, its 850-metre stretch had turned waste into a longer-lasting road too

Plastic bags and glass bottles usually end up in the trash. In Australia, some became part of a highway instead. Engineers rebuilt an 850-meter section of the Hume Freeway using more than 2,100 tons of recycled material. The mix included plastic bags, glass bottles, printer cartridges and reclaimed asphalt. The trial tested whether waste could help create stronger roads.