What many people do not know is that asphalt is America’s most recycled product. We kid you not. Believe it or not, asphalt is a “100% recyclable material,” says Dr. Zhanping You, P.E., Ph.D., professor of transportation engineering and materials at Michigan Technological University. In fact, asphalt pavement is now being recycled and reused at a rate over 99%.
“Every year, approximately 73 million tons of [Recycled Asphalt Pavement] RAP [is] reused, or nearly twice as much as the combined total of 40 million tons of recycled paper, glass, aluminum and plastics,” said Mike Acott, former president of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA).
Over the years, the use of RAP has steadily increased. Today, 96% of asphalt contractors and asphalt companies use RAP, according to the NAPA report titled, Asphalt Pavement Mix Production Survey: 2009-2010 (NAPA Information Series 138). To view/download the full report Asphalt Pavement Mix Production Survey: 2009-2010, click here.
Aside from being America’s most recycled product, asphalt has several other eco-friendly benefits, including:
- Asphalt and the processes used to produce asphalt are green and require about 20 percent less energy to produce and construct than other pavements.
- Once constructed, asphalt pavements have minimal impact on the environment. They do not leach petroleum into the earth.
- Asphalt has a small carbon footprint.
- Asphalt, with its smooth driving surface, helps save fuel.
For these reasons and more, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) encourages the use of recycled asphalt in the construction of roadways to help reduce waste, preserve the environment, and also reduce construction costs. The use of recycled asphalt is a cost effective solution for state, commercial, and residential projects.
PTG Enterprises, your Baltimore Asphalt Contractor
Since 2001, PTG Enterprises, a full service commercial asphalt contractor in Baltimore, Maryland, has set the standard for quality asphalt work in the area, paving thousands of miles of asphalt parking lots.
If you have any questions about Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
