When you think to yourself, “What is the most recycled material in America?”, I bet glass, paper, aluminum, and plastic probably comes to mind. All of these are true! However, according to studies done by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) asphalt pavement is also considered one of America’s #1 recycled products.

According to the FHWA, over 90 % of U.S. highways and roads are constructed with hot mix asphalt (HMA).

“As the U.S. infrastructure ages, these highways and roads must be maintained and rehabilitated. According to their recycled materials policy: The same materials used to build the original highway system can be re-used to repair, reconstruct, and maintain them. Where appropriate, recycling of aggregates and other highway construction materials makes sound economic, environmental, and engineering sense.(1)”

Asphalt is a mixture of aggregates, binders, fillers, and specific recycled waste materials. In our labs at Heritage Research Group, our chemists and engineers are continuously discovering ways to use these asphalt products in more environmentally conscious methods. They look at the materials used, temperatures in which asphalt is laid, all to construct the most eco-friendly and sustainable paving solutions on the market.

One way that our company can recycle asphalt is through CIR, Cold-In-Place Recycling. CIR is a process that removes cracks and other pavement distresses. It is a rehabilitation technique where pavement is milled, crushed, and mixed in place with a stabilizing emulsion or foamed asphalt and then placed with conventional paving equipment. 

The major benefits to this reclamation process are:

  • Cost savings
  • Lowered environmental impact
  • Stronger, safer, most sustainable roads

As we reflect this Global Recycling Day, we are truly proud to be a company that uses and advances one of the most recycled products in America. We look forward to developing asphalt materials that continue to build a safer, more enriching and sustainable world for our future generations and our planet.

Asphalt Materials has been focused on building longer-lasting, safer roads since 1956. We have the full support of the Heritage Research Group Laboratories to help us achieve this objective. We also have extensive knowledge in recycling products and processes, combined with the technical expertise gained from years of experience. To learn more about our AMICYCLE™ products, visit our products page. https://asphalt-materials.com/products/

J-Band® and CCAP®  are registered trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc.

AMIBIND™, AMIBOND™, AMICYCLE™, AMIGUARD™ and AMISEAL™ are trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc

Sources:

  1. Wright, Jr., F. (2001). FHWA Recycled Materials Policy, Federal Highway Administration,
    Washington, DC. Obtained from: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/policy/
    recmatpolicy.html
Cold-in-Place Recycling is a Key Reason Asphalt is the Most Recycled Product.
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