Asphalt recycling saves American tax payers billions of dollars every year. Reports from the National Asphalt Pavement Association reveal that asphalt pavements are among the country’s most recycled products. Supporting data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Highway Administration, confirms that about 90 million tons of asphalt pavement are reclaimed each year, over 80 percent of which is recycled.
Asphalt’s status as a highly sustainable product is not only on account of the fact that it can be reused over and over, but also because it utilizes many waste products that would typically be sent to the landfill. Tire rubber, slags, foundry sand, glass, and even pig manure are incorporated in the asphalt mixture saving hundreds of acres of landfill space. The good news is that Recycled Asphalt Pavements (RAP) are said to match the quality of those made from new materials and are sometimes of a higher grade.
What does the asphalt recycling process involve?
There are many different methods of asphalt recycling, including hot or cold recycling and full-depth recycling (FDR) which enables worn out pavements to be rebuilt by reusing the existing one. Here is the typical process used for recycling asphalt:
- Asphalt chunks or millings are mixed in an asphalt recycler (or reclaimer) along with some water and additives.
- For hot mix asphalt, the mixture is tumbled and heated for approximately 20 minutes before it is ready for use. Cold recycling, on the other hand, avoids the use of heat and saves energy in the process.
- Often, the asphalt cement (the glue that holds the pavement together) retains its adhesive capabilities and can be reused as a binding agent.
- Fine mineral particles that are generated in the process of producing the asphalt pavement material may also be reused which helps to conserve natural resources.
The cost benefits of asphalt recycling are projected to provide a profit or savings potential of $30.00 to $80.00/ton. Naturally, product quality depends on the combination of ingredients used in the recycling and production process.
In order to boost your environmental responsiveness, and maintain attractive and safe paved surfaces, choose a reliable asphalt paving company.
American Asphalt: A Recycling Leader in California
High Quality, Sustainable Paving Products to Enhance Surface Life
American Asphalt is committed to sustainable paving practices and proud to be one of the largest recyclers of used tires in California. Over the last decade, we have contributed to keeping approximately 10 million tires out of landfills by recycling them as part of our rubberized emulsion in slurry seal. Currently being used on streets across the City of San Diego, we are happy to be part of the largest recycled rubber project in the United States.
As a full service company, we offer comprehensive paving solutions for commercial properties in California. This includes installation, repair and maintenance of roads, parking lots and pavements. Our proprietary mixes and quality workmanship help optimize surface performance and lifespan.
Customers across California, including those in Hayward, San Jose, Fremont, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Pleasanton, Livermore, San Leandro, Newark, Union City, Gilroy, Palo Alto, Marin County, San Mateo, Burlingame, and Walnut Creek areas rely on our commercial paving company’s high quality products made by using a proven asphalt recycling process.
Contact us to understand how asphalt recycling is done. Call us at 800-541-5559 to inquire about our paving services.
Related Blog Posts
No related blog posts found.