Waikato-devulcanised rubber trial points to a home-grown use for New Zealand’s 6.5 million end-of-life tyres.
Rubber recovered from around 264 end-of-life car tyres has been laid into one of central Hamilton’s busiest streets. The trial could help solve one of New Zealand’s most persistent waste problems.
Connect Hamilton has partnered with Road Science to trial FlexiPlus Bind | EcoBlend, an innovative asphalt binder incorporating devulcanised rubber from recycled tyres, as part of the asphalt resurfacing project on Angelsea Street..
Media Release: 02 November 2026
The trial follows Road Science's successful FlexiPlus Bind | EcoBlend project with Auckland Transport earlier this year and adds to the growing evidence supporting the use of recovered tyre materials in New Zealand's road network.
Each year, around 6.5 million tyres reach end-of-life in New Zealand. Through this trial, Connect Hamilton will help demonstrate how recovered tyre materials can be repurposed into high-performing road infrastructure via FlexiPlus Bind | EcoBlend, with approximately 1,320kg of recycled tyre rubber, equivalent to around 264 tyres, incorporated into the central Hamilton project.
To put that into perspective, Connect Hamilton replaced 157 tyres across its fleet over the past 12 months. The recycled tyre rubber used in this single trial alone offsets nearly 1.7 years' worth of the organisation's annual tyre replacement volume, highlighting the scale of the circular economy benefits that can be achieved through road construction.
Design and Renewals Manager at Connect Hamilton, Nikhil Vishwanath, says:
"We're constantly looking for innovative ways to reduce our environmental footprint while continuing to deliver reliable infrastructure outcomes for Hamilton. FlexiPlus Bind | EcoBlend enables us to offset tyre waste while maintaining the performance required on some of our busiest roads, all within our existing programme budget.”
“This trial demonstrates the value of the long-standing partnership between Hamilton City Council and Downer through the Connect Hamilton contract. Together, we're creating opportunities to trial innovative solutions that improve environmental outcomes while continuing to deliver a safe, reliable, and high-performing transport network for Hamilton. It's exactly the type of forward-thinking approach our growing city needs, and one that provides lasting value for both ratepayers and future generations.” says Gordon Naidoo, Director of Transport, Hamilton City Council.
For many years, Road Science has supplied polymer-modified binders designed to improve the durability and performance of New Zealand's roads. FlexiPlus Bind | EcoBlend builds on this proven technology by incorporating devulcanised rubber, now supplied by Kiwi partner Cyclenomics via their new state-of-the-art Waikato facility. Road Science has partnered with Cyclenomics for their expertise in devulcanised rubber technology and shared commitment to advancing circular tyre recycling in New Zealand. By moving beyond traditional crumb rubber, which can present operational, safety and performance challenges, FlexiPlus Bind | EcoBlend represents a next-generation tyre-derived binder solution. This EcoBlend variation reduces reliance on virgin polymers while maintaining the fatigue resistance, rut performance, and durability expected from Road Science’s FlexiPlus Bind range.
“One of the biggest challenges for the industry is proving circular economy solutions can move beyond pilot projects and into everyday road construction," says Manaf Alshamsi, Product Growth Manager at Road Science.
"We're excited to be partnering with Connect Hamilton on this project. It provides another opportunity to demonstrate how recycled tyre materials can be integrated into mainstream road construction while maintaining the performance standards expected from premium polymer-modified binders."
By bringing together road owners, contractors, recyclers and suppliers, the project demonstrates how collaboration across the supply chain can help transform end-of-life tyres into a valuable infrastructure resource.
Traditional recycled rubber vs devulcanised rubber:
Traditional recycled tyre rubber, known as crumb rubber, is produced by grinding end-of-life tyres into fine, granular particles. However, in New Zealand road construction, crumb rubber can present operational risks, including contamination of binder tanks, trailers, and manufacturing equipment due to incomplete dissolution in bitumen; increased fire and fume hazards during blending; blockages in transport and storage systems; and infrastructure limitations, as overseas plants typically dedicate specialised equipment to rubber modified binders.
To overcome these challenges, Road Science opted to integrate devulcanised rubber into its EcoBlend formulation. This material undergoes an additional processing step by Cyclenomics to break down the rubber to a form that can blend effectively with bitumen and eliminates the risks associated with conventional crumb rubber.
Connect Hamilton trial site details:
The FlexiPlus Bind | EcoBlend trial forms part of an asphalt resurfacing project on Anglesea Street, between Mill Street and London Street. Two sections will use the EcoBlend binder, while the remainder of the site will use a traditional polymer modified binder as a control. Road Science and Connect Hamilton will monitor the site over time to compare the long-term performance of the two binders.
BOILER PLATE
Road Science – a division of Downer
Road Science delivers innovative, science‑driven solutions for stronger, safer, and more resilient roads - powered by Kiwi expertise and engineering excellence. As New Zealand’s leading innovator in the design, manufacture, and supply of bitumen‑based products for the road construction industry, Road Science is committed to supporting the transition to a low‑emissions future and is actively advancing technologies that contribute to New Zealand’s Net-Zero ambitions.
In addition to its product portfolio, Road Science provides advanced road condition survey technologies and laboratory testing services to help assess, optimise, and future‑proof the performance of New Zealand’s road infrastructure.
Media contact:
Darcy Rogers – Head of Growth and Innovation
027 4919 768 - darcy.rogers@roadscience.co.nz
Connect Hamilton
Connect Hamilton is a collaborative partnership between Hamilton City Council and Downer New Zealand operating under the Collaborative Corridor Agreement (CCA) since July 2023. Through an integrated delivery model, the partnership delivers asset management, maintenance and renewal services across Hamilton's transport network, with a strong focus on value for money, innovation, transparency and customer outcomes. By aligning investment decisions with Access Hamilton and the Council's strategic priorities, Connect Hamilton works to optimise whole-of-life asset performance, improve network resilience, minimise disruption, and deliver better outcomes for Hamilton's communities and ratepayers.
Media contact:
Nikhil Vishwanath – Design and Renewals Manager
027 329 8879 – Nikhil.vishwanath@connecthamilton.co.nz
Downer
Downer EDI Limited (Downer) is a leading provider of integrated services across New Zealand and Australia, delivering and maintaining essential infrastructure that enable communities to thrive.
The demand for our services is shaped by investment in the energy transition, defence capability, government services and infrastructure expansion necessary to support population growth and local industry revitalisation. The sectors where we operate include roads, rail, ports and airports, power, gas, water, telecommunications, energy networks, health, education, defence, and other government sectors.
Downer is one of New Zealand’s and Australia’s largest private sector employers, with approximately 23,000 dedicated people, who are united by our high-performance culture, known as ‘The Downer Difference’.
Media contact:
Evonne Geluk – NZ Corporate Affairs Manager
021 195 2059 – evonne.geluk@downer.co.nz
