Volker Highways starts recycled plastic kerbstones trial

A local council has become the latest to trial kerbstones made from recycled plastics, alongside contractor Volker Highways.

Wokingham Borough Council claimed the plastic kerbs reduced the amount of carbon produced in manufacturing, transport and construction by about 40% compared to concrete kerbing.

The plastic kerbs, which contain about 88% recycled material, are cut with hand tools, the council claimed they keep workers safer than they would be cutting concrete, which produces crystalline silica dust. The council added that the lighter material also reduced handling injury risks and meant the kerbs could be installed without mechanical equipment.

The installation of plastic kerbs will be trialled on Elm Road in Earley, and Old Forest Road and Easthampstead Road in Wokingham, all of which are high-use areas where kerbs have previously been damaged.

Volker Highways and the council will monitor the kerbs to see how they stand up to use and may look to trial other areas such as drop kerbs for new access points.

Wokingham Borough Council isn’t the first local authority to trial plastic kerbs, Hampshire County Council announced earlier this year that it was teaming up with Skanska to use the product on some of its roads.

Pauline Jorgensen, a councillor and executive member for highways and transport at Wokingham Borough Council said they could prove to be a means of making its services greener.

Councillor Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency, added: “Exploring further use of recycled products like these kerbstones are the type of changes we are looking into as we aim to be a carbon neutral borough by 2030,” said. 

“I look forward to reviewing the success of these trials to see if the kerbing could be rolled out to other locations in the future.”