The Product Stewardship Scheme (PSS) was established to explore the use of recovered materials and industrial by-products for application in road and rail projects. This includes fast-track application into a number of ‘Towards100’ demonstration projects. Recovered materials include but is not limited to, waste derived materials, recycled materials, reused materials etc.
The Scheme explores the hazards and risks of a range of products proposed for use in road and rail projects. Specialized skills and knowledge are drawn from a range of technical disciplines (e.g., engineering, environment, chemistry) in the assessment to ensure these new products are safe and will perform effectively through their full lifecycle. The aim is to minimise negative impacts and maximise value.
Industry partners contribute funds to the PSS in order for the verification and validation, model spec and demonstration related activities to be undertaken in order to provide confidence in the product use, to help reduce perceived risks and to identify issues needing to be addressed. The level of investment required from industry partners is dependent on the status of the product, the claim being made, the availability of useful independent technical and scientific information, and the anticipated effort required for verification and validation, model spec and demonstration activities.
The industry partners that have invested in PSS assessments to date include:
The Scheme explores the hazards and risks of a range of products proposed for use in road and rail projects. Specialized skills and knowledge are drawn from a range of technical disciplines (e.g., engineering, environment, chemistry) in the assessment to ensure these new products are safe and will perform effectively through their full lifecycle. The aim is to minimise negative impacts and maximise value.
Industry partners contribute funds to the PSS in order for the verification and validation, model spec and demonstration related activities to be undertaken in order to provide confidence in the product use, to help reduce perceived risks and to identify issues needing to be addressed. The level of investment required from industry partners is dependent on the status of the product, the claim being made, the availability of useful independent technical and scientific information, and the anticipated effort required for verification and validation, model spec and demonstration activities.
The industry partners that have invested in PSS assessments to date include:
- FOGO as a landscaping material - Group of Regional Councils (EMRC, RRG and MRC)
- DBS as an imported fill in embankments - Mineral Resources Limited
- DBS as an imported fill in embankments - Covalent Lithium
- DBS as an imported fill in embankments - Albemarle
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The Product Stewardship Scheme provides a number of direct benefits as follows:
- Independent verification of product/material performance and compliance claims
- Confidence assurances in relation to the fit-for-purpose use of the product
- Fast-track product development for implementation into infrastructure projects
- Collaborative approach between suppliers and purchasers
- Towards100 Circular Economy approach
For each waste derived material or product, the following tasks are undertaken:
- Independent review and verification of proponent data including the ability of the material to comply with specified environmental and engineering technical requirements
- Develop a model product specification to enable use of the material in demonstration or other projects to ensure consistency of outcomes
- Explore wider application to Main Roads and METRONET project activities
A flowchart depicting the major stages in the PSS process is given below.
A Terms of Reference has been produced for the Expert Scientific Panel. This can be downloaded from the PSS documentation area below.
PSS Process Flowchart
Product Stewardship Scheme Documentation
| PSS Expert Scientific Panel Terms Of Reference.pdf |