01.09.2026
What does the rubber-modified asphalt revolution mean ?
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The launch of Georgia's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations has opened an entirely new era on the country's environmental and industrial map.
Around this vision and industrial transformation, Tegeta Green Planet and Waste Less jointly organized the international summit GRAS 2026 (Georgia Rubberized Asphalt Summit) in Tbilisi. At the event, partner organizations and international experts discussed the prospects for introducing rubber-modified asphalt technology into road construction.
Both organizations' strategic goal is to work closely with private road-construction companies as well as government agencies, so that laying rubber-modified asphalt becomes a national standard for Georgia's roads. This collaboration demonstrates that the EPR system is not merely about meeting legislative requirements it is a powerful driver of the country's infrastructural transformation, where environmental responsibility and economic benefit fully complement one another.
What is rubber-modified asphalt?
Every year, thousands of tons of used tires accumulate on Georgia's roads. Instead of being reused, this material is often dumped in nature or irresponsibly burned, which is unacceptable.
The essence of the technology is simple: after processing at a specialized facility, an expired tire becomes fine rubber granules (an innovative eco-material). This material is added to a standard bitumen mix, producing rubber-modified asphalt.
In leading Western countries, this method has long been a proven practice. Now Georgia has the chance to introduce this innovation into its own road construction.
Why is this technology the choice of the future?
- Rubber-modified asphalt retains its original condition twice as long. Thanks to its elastic structure, the surface withstands both high summer temperatures and winter frost.
- The rubber layer absorbs the noise generated by friction between car tires and the road. In urban areas and on highways, this technology reduces noise levels by several decibels.
- During rain, rubber-modified asphalt helps prevent water pooling and hydroplaning, minimizing the risk of skidding on the road.
- The technology ensures efficient recycling of waste every 1 kilometer of road laid means the safe utilization of thousands of used tires, significantly reducing environmental pressure.
The introduction of rubber-modified asphalt is not just an initiative of individual companies it is a strategic direction for the entire waste management sector. In Georgia, it is important to build a business ecosystem in which waste is not discarded but becomes a valuable domestic resource, ensuring the country an economically beneficial, European-standard, and environmentally clean future.