There's
no denying that most of America's roadworks and highways today
consist of some form of asphalt concrete, and will continue to do so
for many more years. However, recent construction innovations now
make it possible for non-biodegradable asphalt to be recycled. Upon
calculating the country's roadworks expenses for 2011, the government
saved approximately $2 billion of taxpayer money by incorporating
reclaimed asphalt into those projects.
Specifically,
about a million tons of reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS) and 66
million tons of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) from old roads and
torn-down roofs were used in 2011's road construction season. Working
with RAS and RAP require less energy, and the two materials are also
good sources of liquid asphalt by themselves. Additionally, RAS and
RAP don't require asphalt binders, thus saving the government about
21 million barrels of the substance.
Recycled
asphalt may soon be used for building parking lots and other
pavements. By incorporating so-called “warm-mix” technologies
during construction work, harmful emissions like carbon monoxide can
also be reduced. This trend of using recycled materials is expected
to continue in 2013, now that plastic composites and other reclaimed
materials (i.e. concrete) are now enjoying widespread use in major
cities like New York and Pittsburgh.
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