The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) is seeking government approval to expand the use of recycled tyre rubber in road paving across Kuwait. After conducting extensive research since 2019, KISR has submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) to revise existing regulations that currently prohibit the incorporation of recycled materials in road construction.
KISR’s research aimed to address two key challenges: improving asphalt performance in Kuwait’s extreme heat and finding environmentally sustainable uses for discarded tyres. Large stockpiles of used tyres, covering more than 4,000 square meters in a designated dump area in Salmi, have raised environmental concerns. Incorporating tyre rubber into asphalt presents a dual benefit of reusing waste material while enhancing road durability.
The process developed by KISR involves grinding tyres into fine particles and mixing them into bitumen at high temperatures before blending with aggregates. This modification increases the flexibility of bitumen, helping to prevent typical heat-related damage such as melting or warping on roads exposed to Kuwait’s intense summer temperatures. Researchers successfully replaced up to 12.5 percent of the bitumen with recycled rubber, a achievement described by KISR associate researcher Haya Al-Mutairi as "world-class."
Pilot projects using rubberized asphalt have been implemented on Khaled Al-Marzouq Street between Al-Mansouriya and Al-Qadsiya, Road 106, and more recently for maintenance within the KISR campus in Shuwaikh. Tests conducted so far indicate that roads constructed with the recycled material exhibit strong performance and durability, with no structural issues attributed to the asphalt mixture itself. Minor surface irregularities noted in some cases were linked to drainage problems rather than the rubberized asphalt.
Despite promising results, KISR noted variability in the asphalt mix quality due to the absence of a centralized mixing plant in Kuwait. Each asphalt plant employs distinct procedures for modifying bitumen, complicating standardization efforts. KISR has studied Qatar’s approach as a benchmark, where centralized bitumen processing supports consistent quality and performance.
The research team also utilized drones with thermal imaging to monitor asphalt cooling rates during construction. They found that rubberized asphalt cools faster than conventional mixtures, which shortens the window for compaction by contractors but can also allow roads to open to traffic sooner. In addition, rubberized asphalt demonstrated a lower emissions profile, notably reducing carbon monoxide output compared to traditional asphalt.
KISR is collaborating with the MPW and PAI to update technical specifications so that rubberized asphalt and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) can be formally included as construction materials rather than categorized as waste. Al-Mutairi emphasized that incorporating recycled materials should initially be optional, allowing projects to select them based on suitability and cost.
Cost remains a consideration, as rubberized asphalt may have higher upfront expenses and specific tyre particle sizes are not always readily available. Nonetheless, Al-Mutairi highlighted the potential long-term savings through reduced maintenance frequency. She also noted strong interest from contractors in adopting sustainable materials, citing examples of companies proposing on-site recycling initiatives.
“The market is ready for the use of this technology,” Al-Mutairi said. “Sometimes the guidelines, the specifications, the rules didn’t allow us to adopt these technologies.” With regulatory adjustments underway, KISR hopes to facilitate wider use of recycled tyre materials in Kuwait’s road infrastructure, contributing to both environmental sustainability and improved road quality.