Can Asphalt Be Recycled?

Recycled asphalt is used primarily on roadways.

The U.S. uses large quantities of asphalt to pave roads and other surfaces. In many cases, recycled asphalt can be used to replace all or a portion of the old asphalt.

Benefits

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration says that the benefits of recycling asphalt include cost savings, reduction in landfill space and reduced environmental impacts because there is less need to produce new asphalt (see Reference 1).

Recycling Methods

Asphalt may be recycled either in-place or by removing the old asphalt and remixing it at a plant (see Reference 2).

In-Place Recycling

In-place asphalt recycling may be either hot or cold. With cold recycling, the top 3 to 4 inches of the surface are removed and remixed. With hot recycling, the pavement is heated and then remixed or repaved. Cold in-place recycling can reduce the energy use by 40 to 50 percent because no heat is used (see Reference 2).

Uses

Asphalt is used in roadways, airport runways, parking lots, driveways, and tennis courts, but recycled asphalt is used primarily for roadways (see Reference 2).

Promotion

Some state and local jurisdictions are promoting the use of recycled asphalt by requiring that a certain percentage of the asphalt in paving projects be recycled (see Reference 2).

References

• U.S. Federal Highway Administration
• CalRecycle: Construction and Demolition Recycling, Asphalt Pavement Recycling