A HIGH-TECH process in which recycled material is used to resurface roads on the Island has reached a significant milestone.

The work to improve Whitwell Road in Godshill will mean that 250,000 tonnes of recycled surface material will have been used during the Highways PFI programme.

Coincidentally the milestone comes during Recycle Week 2020.

The recycled resurfacing product is called Recofoam and is produced on the Island at Wight Building Materials’ HQ at St George’s Down on the outskirts of Newport.

Steve Ashman, Island Roads service director, said: “The use of Recofoam technology is just one of the ways Island Roads seeks to minimise its carbon footprint during what is a sustained period of highway engineering on the Island.

“It allows us to re-use large quantities of road surfacing materials that might otherwise be shipped over to the mainland for disposal.

"Recycling as much material as we can saves on both landfill and transportation costs. It is especially pleasing to be working with another Island business — Wight Building Materials — to undertake the process.”

Cllr Ian Ward, IW Council member for infrastructure and transport, said: “It is great to see the project being delivered in an innovative way that is mindful of the need to recycle where possible.”

The Recofoam recycling process was originally introduced in the UK by Ringway, a partner in Island Roads, in 1998.

The process can also use recycled cement and glass to produce resurfacing material and there are plans for it to use rubber from old tyres which are historically difficult to recycle.