Is asphalt environmentally sound?
Yes! Asphalt pavement is 100 percent recyclable and can be made to perform better the second or even third time around. In fact, it is the most recycled product in the United States at 80 percent. That compares to significantly lower percentages for aluminum cans, newsprint, plastic and glass beverage containers, and magazines. Asphalt roads are removed, recrushed, mixed with additional aggregate and fresh asphalt cement, remixed and placed back on the road. The hot mix asphalt industry also accepts the following recycled materials: rubber from used tires; slag from the steel-making process; roofing shingles; and sand from metal-casting foundries. In a report to Congress, the Federal Highway Administration estimated that over 70 million tons of asphalt paving material was recycled in 1992. Recycling roads not only conserves natural resources and decreases construction time, it saves American taxpayers over $300 million each year. Source: National Asphalt Pavement Association Commercial
Yes, absolutely! Asphalt pavement is 100 percent recyclable and can be made to perform better the second or even third time around. In fact, asphalt is the most recycled product in the United States at 80 percent. That compares to significantly lower percentages for aluminum cans, newsprint, plastic and glass beverage containers, and magazines. Often when the asphalt contractor removes asphalt from the road, it is re-crushed, mixed with additional aggregate and binder, and immediately placed back on the road. Should the contractor elect not to follow this method, then the removed asphalt will be taken to a designated area and “stock-piled” for future use. The hot mix asphalt industry also accepts the following recycled materials: rubber from used tires; slag from the steel-making process; roofing shingles; sand from metal-casting foundries; and recycled cement from buildings.
Yes! Asphalt pavement is 100 percent recyclable and can be made to perform better the second or even third time around. In fact, it is the most recycled product in the United States at 80 percent. That compares to significantly lower percentages for aluminum cans, newsprint, plastic and glass beverage containers, and magazines. Asphalt roads are removed, recrushed, mixed with additional aggregate and fresh asphalt cement, remixed and placed back on the road. The hot mix asphalt industry also accepts the following recycled materials: rubber from used tires; slag from the steel-making process; roofing shingles; and sand from metal-casting foundries.
