Dive Brief:
- Asphalt recycling is becoming a popular alternative to landfilling the construction waste materials.
- The process of recycling the concrete, known as full-depth reclamation, is being used at construction sites, businesses and state transportation departments.
- The materials are broken into pieces and used as a base for streets and parking lots. The re-used materials are expected to last two years longer than projects constructed without using repurposed asphalt.
Dive Insight:
Reclaimer machines are used to pulverize the asphalt. The recycled debris can be used not only for parking lots, but also for running tracks and tennis courts.
According to Brett Gaither, a business development manager, the real reason companies are moving toward recycled asphalt in the savings. Since the old debris don't need to be hauled away and landfilled, businesses can save 30% to 50% in costs.
According to the Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association, 68.3 million tons of asphalt were reclaimed in 2012. This illustrated a 22% increase within a three-year timeframe.