Asphalt that is used for roads or parking lots can be recycled, which is a benefit of using the material around your business or home. The Federal Highway Administration reported that 81% of asphalt that was removed from road projects is recycled asphalt.
Old, broken, or damaged asphalt can be reclaimed and reused for other projects to help limit damage to the environment and help users to save money. There are actually multiple methods that exist to help recycle asphalt and keep the quality of the material for your future projects. This blog will discuss reasons that asphalt recycling is beneficial and how asphalt can be recycled.
What Is Asphalt Recycling?
Asphalt recycling has been occurring since the oil embargo and is common among businesses today. It has become more popular as businesses are saving money and keeping materials out of landfills.
Breaking up asphalt that is damaged or cracked and repurposing it for other projects is part of a category called construction and demolition waste. Many people won’t have easy access to C&D recycling facilities, so if you have material that you want to recycle, it is best to work with a contractor. Asphalt can be reheated or mixed with more aggregates to reinforce the damaged material for another project.
It is possible to recycle asphalt multiple times as the cement stays cohesive still after many uses. There are also other materials inside asphalt that can be reused and recycled that are not normally otherwise reused. Some of these materials will last for years but are thrown away early because of the lack of knowledge surrounding asphalt recycling. These materials include foundry sand, cellulose fibers, ground tire rubber, glass, and blast furnace slags.
Is Recycled Or Reclaimed Asphalt Good Quality
There is high demand for reclaimed asphalt because the quality doesn’t deteriorate and can be recycled more than once. The quality of asphalt is high when it is first made as well as after it is recycled. Asphalt helps reduce road noise, repels water, and is easy to maintain. Asphalt that is recycled does not sacrifice any of these benefits.
In fact, recycled asphalt can be more durable and less likely to develop cracks than newly formed asphalt. This can mean you can keep your project looking pristine for much longer when you implement recycled asphalt.
One Of The Most Recycled Materials
In 2019, the National Asphalt Pavement Association reported that more asphalt was recycled in the United States than any other materials. In 2022, 95% of asphalt was reclaimed, up 2% from 2021. The material is becoming more and more popular to recycle because keeping it out of landfills frees up 60 million cubic yards of landfill space each year.
Benefits Of Recycled Asphalt
The benefits of recycling asphalt are what make it one of the most recycled materials in the U.S. Some of these benefits have been previously mentioned, but we will discuss some in more detail below.
Reducing oil use is one major benefit of utilizing recycled asphalt. New construction and paving projects that utilize recycled materials help the planet, make your project much more sustainable and more durable, and limit the need for oil mining.
Another benefit of recycled material is the ability to control the stiffness of the asphalt and have more flexibility in pouring. Using recycled asphalt can also help you choose specific properties for the material since you will need to remix the broken and cracked material with other bonding agents and aggregates. Using recycled aggregates is also beneficial for the environment because they usually include sand, stone, or other natural materials.
Redoing your asphalt parking lot or driveway will increase your property value. Instead of paying for new asphalt to be made, choosing reclaimed asphalt can still improve the look of your property without the higher cost and environmental damage.
Why Work With Precision Asphalt Maintenance
Our team is a complete asphalt service company. We want to help improve your residential or commercial space with new asphalt. We focus on quality, customer service, and creating fulfilling jobs. Precision Asphalt Maintenance provides unique opportunities for jobs by giving our employees unique jobs in all kinds of industries. We know that working with asphalt can be tough, so we provide safety and resources for those who choose to work for us. We keep our customers happy and satisfied with the end result of their projects. Request a quote or fill out our contact form to work with our professional asphalt workers.
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