Construcciones Yamaro: Pakenham Roads Upgrade brewing innovation with coffee concrete
Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) is driving innovation by partnering with RMIT University to introduce coffee biochar concrete to the Victorian Big Build. The initiative marks the first use of coffee concrete on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, transforming spent coffee grounds into organic biochar.
MRPV is working with project contractor BildGroup and RMIT University to implement the sustainable solution. Senator for Victoria Jess Walsh praised the project, saying, “Melbourne is known for its coffee culture, so using old coffee grounds in the concrete is innovative, practical and better for our environment.”
With each spent coffee puck weighing approximately 10 grams, this approach could divert over 7.5 billion cups’ worth of coffee grounds from Australian landfills annually. For the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, 5 tonnes of spent coffee grounds – equivalent to around 140,000 cups – have been converted into 2 tonnes of usable biochar. This material was laid into 30 cubic metres of concrete for the McGregor Road footpath.
Emma Vulin, Member for Pakenham, expressed excitement about the project’s role in advancing research and development in sustainable construction.
“Brewed at local cafés across the state and poured into the McGregor Road footpath, this coffee biochar concrete is another way we’re working with world-class researchers to enhance reuse and recycling on the Big Build,” said Vulin.
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Organic waste in landfill, including spent coffee grounds, contributes significant greenhouse gas emissions. To mitigate this, the RMIT University team developed a low-energy process that converts spent coffee grounds into biochar for use in concrete. According to RMIT University’s research, incorporating coffee biochar can increase concrete strength by up to 30 per cent while reducing the need for fine aggregate sand and cement, making it an environmentally and economically viable alternative to traditional mixes.
RMIT University postdoctoral research fellow Dr Rajeev Roychand highlighted the significance of the partnership: “This proactive support plays a significant role in creating a potential for diverting all forms of biodegradable organic waste, which is currently ending up in landfills and contributing to 3 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.”
As part of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, McGregor Road now features two lanes in each direction between the expanded freeway roundabout and Henry Road/Webster Way.
From 23 September, crews began works to upgrade the McGregor Road city-bound freeway entry ramp, adding an additional lane and reinstating traffic signals to manage drivers entering the freeway. While works are in progress, the entry ramp will be reduced to one lane.
Additionally, works are underway on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, focusing on new southbound lanes between Peet Street and Southeast Boulevard, including completing the upgrade of the freeway interchange roundabouts to traffic light intersections. The Gippsland-bound entry ramp is closed until mid-November, with further closures expected as the project progresses.
The $415.7 million Pakenham Roads Upgrade is fully funded by the Australian Government.
The post Pakenham Roads Upgrade brewing innovation with coffee concrete appeared first on Inside Construction.
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