Is reclaimed asphalt pavement worth the investment?
Any asphalt pavement previously used, removed, and reprocessed is “reclaimed asphalt pavement” (RAP). When asphalt roads are dug up for repairs, resurfacing, or to get access to underground services, this debris is left behind. RAP consists of high-quality, graded aggregates covered with asphalt cement.
The Benefits of Recycling Asphalt
There are many benefits to recycling asphalt pavement. Some include:
- Cost savings for municipalities and other buyers
- New business opportunities
- Reduced energy consumption during on-site recycling
- The preservation of dwindling aggregate and petroleum resources
- Achievement of municipalities’ disposal reduction goals of 50 percent.
How is reclaimed asphalt made?
When removing asphalt pavement, contractors use milling equipment. Milling is the process of removing asphalt or concrete from a road using a milling machine. Each milling machine can remove up to 2 inches of material from the pavement.
There are times when a complete tear-out is necessary, such as removing the underlying pavement and transporting it away. An attachment on a bulldozer and pneumatic pavement breakers are used to rend and break the pavement during a full-depth removal. A front-end loader will collect the debris, load it onto haul trucks, and send them on their way to a central processing plant.
Asphalt production’s impact on the environment
Mixing plants for asphalt pavement are subject to strict regulations from government environmental agencies and use several different emission control techniques. It is measured and kept below the maximum allowed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory agencies to ensure that these control systems do not endanger the environment or the health of nearby communities.
The EPA delisted asphalt factories more than ten years ago after conducting an extensive examination of emissions from these facilities. They do not contribute to air pollution, according to the researchers. Studies conducted after the fact have confirmed that emissions from asphalt pavement mixing facilities do not threaten the environment. The environmental damage caused by asphalt is less than most people believe.
Federal Highway Administration
Through its Accelerated Implementation and Deployment of Pavement Technologies Program, the Federal Highway Administration is always trying to improve pavement performance and reduce agency risk. The transportation industry needs help with the efficient and timely application of such cutting-edge technology. The group works to speed up innovative asphalt pavement R&D, production, testing, control, building, and studying.
Pavement recycling
Environmental stewardship is given great attention in the DOT’s strategic plan. The term “environmental stewardship” was coined by the Environmental Protection Agency to describe the concept of “shared responsibility for environmental quality.” The Federal Highway Administration endorses using recycled highway materials in pavement construction. This is to preserve natural resources, lessen waste, and provide a more viable material for building roads.
The success of reclaimed asphalt pavement
A path to continuing the use of recycled asphalt is opened by demonstrating its current success and beneficial effects. For instance, the FHA provides three essential specifications to illustrate the effectiveness of recycled asphalt:
- Continue to be economical
- Provide a sustainable and environmental impact
- Good work
The National Asphalt Paving Association collaborated with the FHA to measure the effects of RAP to illustrate its efficacy.
“According to the most recent survey data, more than 76.9 million tons of RAP and about 1.4 million tons of recycled asphalt shingles were used in new pavements throughout the 2016 construction season in the USA, saving taxpayers more than $2 billion.” Additionally, warm-mix asphalt methods were used to create more than 30% of the nation’s asphalt pavement mixture that year.”
As the partnership develops and NAPA and the FHA support further reclaimed asphalt use, they continue to be focused on a few goals: utilizing recycled asphalt in highway project construction and promoting RAP, as its use can have the most remarkable economic, environmental, and engineering effects in pavement recycling, and parking lot sealcoating.
Conclusion
The environment and the economy benefit from recycling asphalt pavement. Many already-prepared materials for building roads can be found in reclaimed asphalt pavement. Recycled asphalt pavement is increasingly being used, which reduces the need for new materials and helps keep landfill space free. Recycling, and sealcoating services decrease the money spent on maintaining roads, benefiting highway agencies and taxpayers.
Services offered by Recycling Asphalt
Regarding parking lot repair or maintenance, you can rely on Parking Lot Services. Our team provides expertise, experience, and high-quality, professional equipment to ensure your property’s parking areas safeguard your investment and look their best.
Our team will adhere to the strictest standards when conducting business and won’t cut corners when pursuing these objectives. Our team members follow through on every detail and respond to calls. We are communicative, competent, thorough, and always professional.
At PLS, we use the most cutting-edge equipment available. PLS is delighted to pioneer environmentally friendly paving techniques and now offers green substitutes for traditional paving, sealcoating, striping, and parking lot maintenance services.