KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government, through the National Works Agency, is exploring the use of discarded tyres as crumb rubber in the making of asphalt for roads.

The announcement came during yesterday’s Sectoral Presentation by Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Everald Warmington.

Noting that more than one million tyres are discarded annually in Jamaica, Warmington said “Rather than costing millions to fight mosquito borne diseases caused by improper disposal of tyres, we are going to be using these same tyres to save costs and build a more resilient road network”.

The minister explained that “Rubberised asphalt as it is called contains regular asphalt concrete, which is then mixed with the crumb rubber that comes from waste tyres. The process involves the removal of extraneous materials such as wires, fibre, dust, glass rocks etc. from the tyres which are then reduced into small pieces. The small pieces are then mixed with the asphalt and used as the final surface on the roads”.

He argued that rubberised asphalt will help to add more life to roadways, “is environmentally friendly, increases the safety of the corridors, through a reduction of hydroplaning, as well as facilitates shorter stopping distances”.

“The chemical composition of crumb rubber has been demonstrated to naturally retard the aging and oxidation of rubberized asphalt pavement, as designed to do in tyres. This along with the physical elasticity of the rubber creates a road surface that is as much as 50 times stronger and much less brittle than conventional asphalt. This product reduces the likelihood of cracks developing along the roads, which inevitably leads to potholes,” he added.

Warmington outlined that intentions are to start the project in the following parishes thia year:

• Portland (New Eden and West Retreat)

• St Ann (Black Gate to Linton Park, Maida to Carnie, and Shaw Park) 

• St Mary (Robins Bay to Orange Hill, Port Maria to Islington, Clermont to White Hall, and Wood Park/Farm Pen/Russel Hall )

• St James (Leader Road in Montego Bay, Salt Spring main road, Orange Street/Williams Street, West Side, Peace View, and  Zekes Lane) 

• St Andrew (Hamstead Road/Chaves Road/Ulster Road, High Light View Road, August Town Road, West Meade, and West Meade to Hydra Drive)

• Clarendon (Mullet Hall, Chapelton Road in May Pen, Howard Avenue, Portland Cottage, and Salt River)

• St Catherine (Colbeck Road and Riverside Park)

He said the Government has already received interests from three companies for partnership and the project not only presents a more environmentally friendly way of disposing tyres, but will also assist with job creation.