Dust generated from unpaved roads is one of the biggest environmental challenges faced by quarries, construction sites, mines, recycling facilities and industrial operations.
Every passing vehicle lifts fine dust particles into the air, reducing visibility, increasing maintenance costs, generating complaints and affecting both worker safety and the surrounding environment.
While traditional dust suppression methods use water to temporarily reduce airborne dust, road dust control and stabilisation provides a longer-lasting solution by treating the road surface itself. The result is reduced dust emissions, improved road performance and fewer maintenance requirements.
At ODS, our ODS DustLock™ solution provides an environmentally responsible way of controlling dust on unsealed roads while improving the stability and durability of the road surface.
Road dust control is the process of reducing dust generated from vehicle movements on unsealed or lightly surfaced roads.
Rather than simply spraying water that evaporates within hours, specialised treatments bind fine particles together, helping the road retain moisture and reducing the amount of dust released into the air.
The result is cleaner roads, improved visibility and a significant reduction in airborne dust.
Road stabilisation strengthens the upper layer of an unsealed road by binding loose particles together.
A stabilised surface is more resistant to:
This not only reduces dust but also extends the life of the road and lowers ongoing maintenance costs.
Different sites require different approaches to dust management. In many cases, the most effective solution combines several technologies, depending on where dust is being generated.
| Solution | Typical Duration | Water Usage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Bowser | Hours | High | Short-term dust suppression during dry conditions |
| Fog Cannon | While operating | Medium | Crushers, stockpiles, demolition and localised dust sources |
| ODS DustLock™ | Long-term | Low | Haul roads, unpaved roads and preventing dust at source |
For many operations, the best results come from combining multiple dust control methods. For example, a quarry may use ODS DustLock™ to treat haul roads, fog cannons around crushers and transfer points, and real-time dust monitoring systems to continuously measure air quality across the site.
ODS DustLock™ is a biodegradable dust control and road stabilisation treatment derived from natural plant-based materials.
Once applied, it binds fine particles together within the road surface, helping retain moisture while reducing the amount of dust generated by passing traffic.
Unlike water alone, which evaporates quickly, ODS DustLock™ provides longer-lasting dust control and helps maintain a more stable road surface between maintenance cycles.
This means operators can reduce water consumption, decrease grading frequency and improve the overall condition of haul roads and access routes.
ODS DustLock™ is suitable for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications, including:
Wherever vehicles regularly travel on unsealed surfaces, effective dust control can improve both operational efficiency and environmental performance.
Using a long-term dust control treatment offers several advantages over relying solely on water suppression.
These include:
Haul roads are often one of the largest sources of dust emissions within a quarry.
Heavy vehicle movements continuously disturb the road surface, creating fine airborne particles that can travel significant distances depending on weather conditions.
Applying a road dust control treatment helps reduce emissions at source while improving the condition of the haul road itself.
Combined with dust monitoring and suppression systems, this creates a comprehensive approach to quarry dust management.
Read more about:
Dust Monitoring for Quarries
Dust Suppression for Quarries
Quarry Haul Road Dust Control
PM10 vs PM2.5 Monitoring in Quarries
ODS DustLock™ is designed to provide effective dust control while supporting environmentally responsible site management.
By reducing the need for continuous watering and helping retain road materials, operators can lower water usage, reduce maintenance activities and improve overall sustainability.
Its biodegradable formulation makes it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications where environmental performance is an important consideration.
Dust control is rarely solved with a single product.
At ODS, we help clients develop complete dust management strategies by combining:
Rather than recommending a single product for every site, we assess each application individually to provide the most effective and cost-efficient dust management strategy.
Road dust control reduces airborne dust generated by traffic travelling over unsealed roads using specialist treatments that bind surface particles together.
No.
Dust suppression reduces airborne dust after it has been generated, while road stabilisation helps prevent dust from being created by improving the road surface itself. The two methods often work best when used together.
Performance depends on traffic volumes, weather conditions and road construction, but stabilisation treatments generally provide significantly longer-lasting dust reduction than water alone.
Yes.
Because the treatment helps retain moisture within the road surface, operators often reduce the frequency of water applications, helping to lower both water consumption and operating costs.
Yes.
ODS DustLock™ is a biodegradable solution derived from natural plant-based materials and is designed to provide effective dust control while supporting environmentally responsible site management.