Doncaster Council has partnered with Duraproducts to trial the company’s pioneering recycled plastic kerbing units at two sites within the city. Traditional concrete kerbs at North Bridge and West End Lane have been replaced with Durakerb, a recyclable lightweight kerbing solution made from 88% recycled polymer content.
As part of the project, Highway Operations in collaboration with the Highways Asset Management Team researched alternative methods to design out or greatly reduce the need for manual handling of concrete kerbs and channels, as well as decreasing the exposure to silica dust. It was also important to consider the impact of the carbon footprint involved in both the production and cutting of the concrete products.
Durakerb was selected for its superior health and safety credentials, specifically relating to handling issues involving concrete. These include hand-arm vibration – a painful condition which arises from the excessive use of hand-held power tools – and silica dust exposure which is produced when concrete is cut and can lead to the development of serious chest conditions.
The unit's predominant health and safety benefit is that it is lightweight. Weighing under six kilograms means that every unit can be easily lifted by hand, with no machinery required at any stage of installation. The polymer kerb stones can be easily moved and assembled into place. To accommodate varying installation landscapes, every unit can be hand sawn and resized to fit any space.
Catering to the demand for a sustainable solution, Durakerb units contain 88% recycled and recyclable polymer units. They are made from recycled milk bottles, caps and closures, plus other household and commercial polymer waste, thereby diverting waste from landfills and minimising environmental harm. With end-of-life potential in mind, all Durakerb units can be either recycled into new products or repurposed in their entirety for different projects, further contributing to a more sustainable future.
Andy Leah, General Manager at Duraproducts commented: “It's great to see Doncaster Council leading the way in sustainable infrastructure. By partnering with Duraproducts and implementing our innovative recycled plastic kerbing units, the council is not only improving the environment but also prioritising the health and safety of its workforce. The successful trials demonstrate the viability and benefits of this sustainable solution, and we hope to see more councils adopting similar practices in the future.”
Going on trial
Doncaster Council selected two sites for the trial. Rather than choosing two ‘safe sites’, the local authority identified one high-stress area, which suffers from regular HGV override and has
previously been repaired (and failed) to truly test the capabilities of Durakerb as well as one low stress site. The works consisted of excavating the existing damaged kerbs, gully, tarmac, and concrete prior to laying Durakerb and reinstating the area to the rear with reinforced concrete. Following completion of the works, although there is clear evidence of vehicle override, the kerbs have not become damaged or displaced.
The second site selected for the trial was chosen to provide a different perspective. It is a low stress site, predominately used by domestic vehicles and provides a realistic and practical monitoring site to allow consideration for use in domestic vehicle access crossing installations. The works consisted of excavating the existing standard kerbs, and grassed area prior to laying Durakerb and constructing the parking area using sub-base and tarmac.
Early indications show that the kerbs installed at the two sites have enabled safe, single person manual handling. Consequently, it has been proposed to extend the use of Durakerb to other suitable projects across the borough with a view to them becoming the norm rather than the exception.