“Of the 2.6 million paved roads in the United States, over 94% are paved with asphalt”. (Source: Black and Green Report).

There are many pressing reasons to use recycled asphalt pavement in your next project including cost, the environment, and sustainability. With so many asphalt-paved roads in America, the opportunity exists to really create environmentally friendly, sustainable projects that are also positive for the American economy.

Asphalt is the most recycled product in America, with 80% of all reclaimed asphalt being recycled, but why is that? There are many benefits to recycled asphalt.

5 Benefits of Asphalt Recycling

1. The recycled version is just as good as the original. This is one instance where recycling doesn’t lose any quality. Some even argue that the recycled asphalt pavement or RAP is of a higher quality than the original pavement, being more durable and sturdy. RAP is also renewable - something traditional asphalt can’t claim.
2. It saves everybody money. The National Asphalt Paving Association estimates that American taxpayers save as much as $1.8 billion annually solely from recycling asphalt. That’s great, but what about your project? Recycled asphalt is also a cheaper material to produce and purchase, often used to lower construction costs. Costs are also lower than traditional asphalt as many processes, such as the mining of materials, are eliminated.
3. Asphalt increases the use of other recyclables. Materials from other industries are recycled into asphalt materials instead of winding up in landfills. Everything from glass, and asphalt roofing shingles finds a home in new asphalt. You get benefits from these additions too - each added material brings a new property to the mixture.
4. Still thinking about the environment? Increased use of RAP as a percentage of the total asphalt mix can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the significant fuel consumption required to acquire and process raw materials for virgin mix.
5. Stone, sand and gravel, the aggregates of asphalt are actually a limited resource. Preserving these resources through recycling is essential to keeping roads safe and comfortable into the future.

Today, pavement engineers, government agencies, and contractors regard old asphalt as an asset, not waste, and the trend to recycle and reuse continues to gain momentum as a result. There are many advantages to asphalt recycling, both for the environment, construction teams, and the consumer.