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ASPHALT ENGINEERING PRACTICES
In 1979, Minnesota began mixing ground-up scrap tires into two asphalt test roads; years later, FHWA said both experimental sections were still performing wellIn Minnesota, a trial was conducted to explore the use of recycled tire rubber for enhancing roadway performance in winter. Utilizing PlusR...
In 1987, Kentucky put 40% power-plant bottom ash into 1 mile of State Route 3; later testing found excellent performance and strong skid resistance on the roadEngineers in Kentucky embarked on a pioneering project to incorporate bottom ash from coal-fired power plants into asphalt mixtures. Their ...
In 1986, Illinois rebuilt 4.14 miles of I-57 using recycled concrete; 20 years later, load transfer efficiency across transverse cracks still averaged over 90%In the 1980s, the Illinois Department of Transportation pioneered a project that involved recycling roadway concrete into new pavement. Aft...
Australia turned food scraps into biogas at EarthPower; the result powered 4,000 homes while processing 62,500 tonnes of food waste and producing soil improver in SydneyEvery year, major metropolitan hubs produce hundreds of thousands of tonnes of organic waste, a significant portion of which ends up decayi...
In 2019, South Africa put 700 kg of waste plastic into a 300-metre road; Jeffreys Bay turned discarded packaging into its asphalt surfaceIn 2019, South Africa put 700 kg of waste plastic into a 300-metre road; Jeffreys Bay turned discarded packaging into its asphalt surface. ...
In 2018, Tasmania built a road using 530,000 plastic bags, 168,000 glass bottles and 12,500 printer cartridges; engineers expected it to last 15% longerWhat if the road beneath your feet was made partly from the rubbish you threw away? In Tasmania, that idea became real in 2018. Engineers b...
In 2012, Bellingham used porcelain from 400 recycled toilets to build a roadway, diverting about 5 tons of waste from landfill. It earned the world's first official "Greenroads" certificationCities across the US are embracing creative solutions for eco-friendly infrastructure. In Bellingham, Washington, a unique project utilized...
In 2018, the Netherlands turned 1,000 kg of household plastic into a 30-metre cycle path; the road contained the equivalent of 218,000 plastic cupsA Dutch cycle path turned plastic waste into something useful. In 2018, Zwolle opened a 30-metre path made with about 1,000 kilograms of re...
In 2018, Melbourne put 200,000 plastic bags, 63,000 glass bottles and 4,500 used printer cartridges into a road; 250 tonnes of recycled asphalt showed 60% better fatigue resistanceIn 2018, Melbourne tested a road with an unusual ingredient list: 200,000 plastic bags, 63,000 glass bottles and 4,500 used printer cartrid...
6,000 milk bottle road in China: How plastic waste found a strange second life in ShanghaiMore than 6,000 used milk bottles in Shanghai were given an unusual second life when they were processed into recycled plastic and incorpor...
In 2022, Wales mixed fibres from 4.3 tonnes of used nappies into a highway; the waste replaced asphalt material imported from EuropeWales recently resurfaced part of the A487 highway using fibers from 4.3 tonnes of recycled diapers. Sanitized diaper waste was processed i...
In the year to September 2023, one Australian city used 6,790 litres of waste engine oil to build roads; it became a coating for stone used in road sealsIn the year leading up to September 2023, the City of Greater Geelong transformed thousands of litres of used motor oil into durable public...
In 2021, Victoria used 2,100 tons of recycled road base to rebuild the Hume Freeway. 5 years later, its 850-metre stretch had turned waste into a longer-lasting road tooPlastic bags and glass bottles usually end up in the trash. In Australia, some became part of a highway instead. Engineers rebuilt an 850-m...
In 2024, Arizona engineers used 100% recycled glass to widen 23 miles of Interstate 17 at 19 sites, protecting concrete culverts built for a narrower highwayInstead of adding heavy soil and stone above aging concrete drainage structures, engineers used ultra-lightweight foam glass made from recy...
In 2021, Missouri added just 1% waste plastic to a two-mile road, that tiny share consumed 10 tons, equal to 750,000 soda bottlesIn 2021, Missouri transportation officials discussed a road project that tested recycled plastic in asphalt pavement. Engineers from the Un...
In 2025, Nebraska put two million plastic bags into a 4,000-foot road; it became the state’s first recycled-plastic roadNebraska put the equivalent of two million plastic bags into a 4,000-foot road in 2025, creating the state’s first recycled-plastic road. T...
Los Angeles recycled old street asphalt with microwaves instead of buying virgin paving material; over 800,000 tons were avoided over 5 years, saving approximately $8 millionLos Angeles has pioneered a groundbreaking method for recycling old asphalt pavement through microwave technology. This inventive technique...
In 2024, Michigan Tech mixed 6% treated waste glass into asphalt; dynamic stability rose 42.3%, and anti-skid performance improved 38.6% over standard mixesResearchers at Michigan Technological University have discovered an innovative way to utilize waste glass in paving roads. Their findings r...
In 1980, New Jersey reused 14,000 tons of milled U.S. 1 asphalt for U.S. 130 shoulders, saving $50,346 and 12,753 tons of virgin stoneNew Jersey's engineering team successfully transformed milled road surfaces into functional highway shoulders, achieving significant saving...
In 2014, Royal Society of Chemistry scientists extracted D-limonene from waste orange peels at 96% purity, turning citrus processing waste into bio-based asphalt modifiersCitrus waste, previously considered rubbish, is now transformed into a valuable resource. D-limonene, derived from orange peels, is emergin...