An innovative, eco-friendly material is set to transform footway reconstructions across Worcestershire.

RECOFOAM® is an environmentally friendly binder course material produced by the county council's contractor Ringway.

Made with up to 97 per cent recycled materials, it reduces carbon emissions by up to 70 per cent per tonne compared to traditional hot mix asphalt.

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Councillor Emma Stokes, the council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: "Our use of RECOFOAM® represents a significant step forward and we are proud to use it as an excellent example of sustainable footway infrastructure.

"By incorporating recycled materials and reducing our carbon footprint, we are protecting our environment and setting a new standard for roadworks.

"This achievement demonstrates our dedication to creating a cleaner, greener Worcestershire for future generations."

The process repurposes hardcore waste from footway projects, crushing and blending it with foamed bitumen to create a durable binder course material.

It also prevents hazardous materials, such as asphalt waste containing coal tar, from entering landfills.

In 2023 alone, Ringway produced 8,522 tonnes of RECOFOAM® for footway reconstruction, reducing emissions to 144,874 kg CO₂e—a 74 per cent decrease from the 553,930 kg CO₂e that conventional materials would have generated.

RECOFOAM® is now the standard for footway reconstructions across the county.