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A sustainable, low cost, low carbon, recycled road paving system, TAYSET^®, is the result of a three-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership between the Scottish local authority contractor,Tayside Contracts and the University of Dundee.

TAYSET^® is made from recycled construction waste and is capable of producing financial savings of over £6 million per year when compared to traditional asphalts. In addition, the production process, described as providing a “greener shade of black”, could lead to annual CO₂ savings of 17,160 tonnes. Successful live trial sites are operational in three local authority networks and are being viewed with interest by the utility industry.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable growth, John Swinney, launched the product in June 2008 and said that Tayset offers numerous benefits to Scotland.

“It recycles construction waste, the unique production process emits less carbon and it is cheaper than traditional materials.

“The development of Tayset has been a hugely successful collaboration between our world class universities and industry, and I wish Tayside Contacts success in rolling out this new, more environmentally friendly product.”

The system was first developed at the University’s Concrete Technology Unit and then tested on-site by Tayside Contracts. Academics faced the challenge of developing a material that while environmentally sound had the resilience to withstand the Scottish climate. The Unit’s experience in sustainable construction and materials performance was crucial in understanding and developing this product.

Tayside Contracts demonstrate their new product at the Tayset launch event in June 2008.