The ARA, in partnership with Arup, hosted an informative webinar on the circular economy this week, as part of the ongoing sustainability webinar series.
Attendees heard from Reid Beauchamp, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Arup, on the basics of the circular economy, and why it is important to the rail sector.
There are opportunities to apply the circular economy in all aspects of rail infrastructure design and operation, including by maximising asset lifecycles, designing for adaptability and disassembly, and reuse and recycling of components and materials. This has the potential to deliver a broad range of benefits to businesses encompassing environmental, social and economic value-adds.
Webinar attendees also heard examples of these principles in action in the rail sector. Louise Barret, Senior Program Manager at EcologiQ, outlined case studies from across Victoria which highlighted the wide range of opportunities for integrating recycled materials, both within the rail corridor and beyond.
Joe Cosgriff, Senior Project Engineer at NWPA and Metro Trains, provided attendees with another best-practice example, demonstrating how overhead wire steel structures had been dismantled, re-designed, and re-used as part of the Level Crossings Removal Project at Keon.
The sustainability webinar series continues next month, with a presentation on Nature Based Solutions on Tuesday 10 September.