National recycling week - North East Link - Turning waste into project resources 

With a goal of incorporating 30% recycled content across the project, Spark is finding practical ways to reduce waste, reuse materials and create lasting value for the communities we work in. 

Recycling coffee grounds 

Through a partnership with Reground, coffee grounds collected from sites across the project are being transformed into nutrient-rich compost for future landscaped areas. To date, 4,170kg of coffee grounds have been diverted from landfill. 

Using sustainable asphalt 

Across the northern and southern surface works, crews are using Reconophalt, an innovative asphalt product that incorporates reclaimed asphalt, recycled soft plastics and waste printer toner. So far, 603 tonnes have been used, helping divert 3,015 tonnes of waste from landfill and avoid 13.7 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. 

Reducing waste at the source 

Following a project-wide waste campaign, the Lower Plenty Road site reduced office waste sent to landfill by more than 2.5% between March and May. The team has also spent the past two years collecting milk bottle lids for Precious Plastic Melbourne, supporting the creation of practical, creative and educational products from recycled plastic. 

Small actions add up. By embedding sustainability into everyday decisions, we're helping build critical infrastructure while reducing our environmental footprint. 

Webuild, as part of the Spark Joint Venture, is delivering the tunnels as part of North East Link. The project will take 15,000 trucks off local roads every day and reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes for commuters. Once complete, it will be the longest road tunnel in Victoria.