Successful trials of rubber-modified asphalt could help Kuwait improve road durability while creating a new use for discarded tyres.
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) is seeking government approval to expand the use of recycled tyre rubber in road construction following several years of testing under the country’s demanding climate conditions. The institute has submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Public Works and the Public Authority for Industry to update existing specifications that currently do not permit recycled materials in road construction.
Since 2019, KISR researchers have been studying how ground tyre rubber performs when incorporated into asphalt. The research focuses on two related challenges: improving road performance in Kuwait’s intense summer heat and finding a productive application for discarded tyres. Thousands of used tyres are currently stored at a tyre dump covering more than 4,000 square metres in the Salmi area.
According to Haya Al-Mutairi, an associate researcher at KISR, the trials have produced promising results. She said roads constructed using the material demonstrated excellent durability and performance, while also providing an environmental benefit by converting waste into a resource for infrastructure development.
The process involves grinding discarded tyres and adding the rubber directly to bitumen at high temperatures before combining the mixture with rocks and sand. The rubber makes the bitumen more flexible, helping the asphalt withstand extreme heat and reducing the risk of melting or deformation. For a two-lane road measuring one kilometre, the process could use hundreds of tyres, according to Al-Mutairi’s estimate.
The proposed technology could support Kuwait’s efforts to manage end-of-life tyres while strengthening the performance of its road network. By incorporating recycled rubber into paving materials, the country could reduce the volume of tyre waste requiring disposal and create demand for locally processed recycled materials.
KISR’s recommendations now require consideration by the relevant authorities before the technology can be adopted more widely. Updating technical specifications and establishing the necessary regulatory framework will be important steps toward bringing rubber-modified asphalt into routine road construction.
The initiative highlights the potential of tyre recycling to support both environmental management and infrastructure development. If approved, the wider use of recycled tyre rubber could provide Kuwait with a practical way to turn a persistent waste challenge into a useful construction material while improving road resilience in a hot climate.