Asphalt Pavement Recycling Facts

Environmental Issues of Poor Road Conditions | Recycling of Asphalt Pavement | Asphalt Recycling Facts and Report Card

The hot mix asphalt industry is a national leader in recycling its product – and others.

Twice as much asphalt pavement is recycled as paper, glass, plastic and aluminum combined.

Other recycled products can also be used in making asphalt pavement.

• Asphalt rubber uses 15-20% rubber from ground-up tires to make an asphalt binder.
• Slag aggregate from steel production is required or allowed in states including Illinois, Indiana and Michigan for use in high-volume pavements. The slag helps improve skid resistance and is used in well-known race tracks and other high-friction applications.
• Factory-reject asphalt roofing shingles are used in North Carolina and Minnesota state projects. (Used shingles from roofs are not widely recycled for this purpose.)
• Foundry sand from the metals casting industry in Pennsylvania cuts the cost of sand used in making Hot Mix Asphalt by about 40 percent.

Source: Asphalt Pavement Alliance