A report from the environmental protection agency and the Federal Highway Administration has identified asphalt as the most recycled product in the USA. Another recent survey done by the National Asphalt Pavement Association, in partnership with Federal Highway Administration, reveals over 100 million tons of reclaimed asphalt were recycled in 2018. Of the 100 million tons of reclaimed asphalt, 95% of it is re-used to pave roads and highways, while the rest are used on road bases, shoulders, and other construction jobs.
What Are the Benefits of Recycling Asphalt?
Re-using asphalt comes with a range of benefits:
Environmental benefits: Recycling used asphalt help drastically cut down the amount of new oil needed in construction processes. It also eliminates material waste that could end up in landfills. This ultimately leads to better conservation of natural resources.
Saves cost: Recycling asphalt reduces the costs of projects, including road constructions, thus saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year. It helps road contractors reduce energy, material, and transportation costs.
Improved quality: When recycled asphalt is used, the quality of asphalt pavements is enhanced. Recycled asphalt boasts a stronger cracking resistance due to the added organic fibers and mineral fillers.
What Is the Asphalt Recycling Process?
The asphalt recycling process takes the following steps:
Step 1: Asphalt milling: Asphalt milling refers to the re-paving procedure to remove the top layer of asphalt from the streets, parking lots, or driveways. This procedure is done using specialized machinery to ensure the sub-base is not disturbed.
Step 2: Screening: The material is then transported to an asphalt plant, where it is screened and resized. Fibers, mineral fillers, and other materials can be added to fortify the material and increase durability.
Step 3: The recycled asphalt is stored or transported to the new site, ready to be re-used in a range of construction jobs. Asphalt can be re-used or recycled several times over its lifespan.
As the leading provider of a range of construction materials in Intermountain West, Kilgore Companies understand the need for using sustainable resources that secure the future. That is why we recycle and re-use asphalt in most of our processes. We leverage modern tools and technologies to reclaim and rejuvenate asphalt in our construction jobs for future re-use. Recycling helps us to produce a range of myriads of different custom mixes of asphalt for several types of projects. We offer aggregates, ready mix concrete, paving, and construction services. Contact us today to request a quote.