The UK Highways Agency is at the cutting edge of recycling, having used recycled glass materials to make sand to improve drainage alongside the M3 motorway near Camberley. 20M wine bottles were turned into 10,000/t glass sand and used on a 3.5-km stretch of the M3 to replace 3m deep filter drains. The sand, which is green in colour, was chosen for its free draining properties and good permeability. The bottles, sourced from curbside collection etc., would have otherwise ended up in landfill. The reclaimed bottles were crushed and washed to remove corks and labels, then turned into green sand to conform to British Safety Standards that ensure it is safe to handle. The project was part of the Highways Agency's commitment to provide environmentally protective solutions in the planning of its work.
