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CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL RECYCLING
Oregon’s bridge program diverted 640,162 tons of construction material from landfills; FHWA valued the landfill diversion at $21.3 million across 208 bridgesBundled bridge contracts streamline multiple projects into a cohesive framework, enhancing efficiency and minimizing costs. This strategy p...
Colorado rebuilt part of US 24 by reconditioning its old asphalt in place; the $5.7 million project avoided hauling in more than 40,000 tons of new baseColorado has made strides in sustainable road maintenance with the successful recycling of old asphalt on US Highway 24. By saving over 40,...
In 2011, Colorado reused 134,000 tons of old asphalt in highway mixes; CDOT estimated the recycled material saved the state about $1.6 millionColorado's innovative approach to roadway construction has resulted in significant savings, repurposing old asphalt in new projects. By emb...
In 1972, Illinois built a highway embankment with 246,000 cubic yards of coal ash. It’s still holding up even after 50 yearsIn 1972, a groundbreaking highway project in Illinois incorporated coal fly ash as a structural fill, challenging traditional practices. Th...
Nearly 300 tonnes of unwanted glass were headed for the landfill. Idaho used them to build a highway instead and solved a local landfill crisisEngineers have ingeniously repurposed discarded glass as a foundation material for highways, utilizing around 300 tonnes of crushed glass c...
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 1997, Abilene collected 240 tons of waste glass for Antilley Road; Dyess Air Force Base crushed the glass at $9 a ton for two 750-foot test sectionsIn Abilene, Texas, an innovative project has integrated crushed glass from recycled bottles and jars into road construction. By blending gl...
In 2009, Illinois used an estimated 284,715 tons of recycled concrete material in highway construction; IDOT spent about $3.18 million on the material for embankments, bases, and subbasesIn Illinois, the innovative approach of repurposing aged concrete for highway projects is not just cost-effective but also environmentally ...
In 2002, San Francisco pledged to reach zero waste by 2020. 18 years later, it fell short but still diverted 80% of waste from landfills and recycled 600 tonnes each daySan Francisco pursued ambitious waste reduction goals, aiming for zero waste by 2020. Mandatory recycling and composting ordinances were en...
In 2000, California packed 6,627 tons of shredded tires beneath Dixon Landing Road; the lightweight fill saved an estimated $477,000In Milpitas, California, an innovative on-ramp has been constructed using shredded tires as a lightweight fill material. This eco-friendly ...
In 2011, Naval Station Great Lakes added composting and recycling bins. 3 years later, the Navy had diverted 300 tons of food and yard waste and recycled 114% more wasteNaval Station Great Lakes enhanced waste management after joining the Federal Green Challenge. The station increased recycling by 114 perce...
In 2025, Egyptian researchers mixed eggshell waste into clay bricks to block the walls from absorbing outside heat and transferring it indoors during hot climates; heat transfer dropped 50%Egyptian researchers tested clay bricks containing eggshell waste and found that a 10% eggshell formulation fired at 1,100°C reduced therma...
In 2022, Hawaii used 195,000 plastic bottles to rebuild a road. Engineers found an alternative use for recycling plastic waste, but there's a catchHawaii's officials have embarked on an innovative experiment to blend recycled plastic into road asphalt, effectively repurposing nearly 20...
What looks like a normal Canadian home is actually made from 612,000 plastic bottlesTwo Canadian brothers have turned an astonishing 612,000 discarded plastic bottles into a concept home in Meteghan, Nova Scotia. Their comp...
Two Canadian builders turned 612,000 plastic bottles into 2,000-sq-ft home in Nova Scotia; its panels were so strong they withstood sustained winds of 326 mph, twice the strength of Category 5 hurricaneCanadian builders transformed more than 600,000 plastic bottles into a house. The recycled PET was processed into foam and used to make str...
32,600 used tires did not go to a landfill. Instead, Michigan turned them into a 1.15-mile road in Clare County that can also reduce traffic noise. The next target is Detroit roadsMichigan is turning discarded tires into road-building material, with 32,600 passenger tire equivalents reused on a 1.15-mile stretch of Ha...
In a 2015 Deakin University study, crushed waste glass replaced 30% of concrete sand; after 28 days, the recycled mix was 6% stronger than conventional concreteAustralian researchers found that crushed glass strengthens concrete mixtures effectively. Replacing sand with up to thirty percent recycle...
In 2021, RMIT tested shredded face masks with recycled concrete for road bases; 1 kilometer could use 3 million masks and divert 93 tonnes from landfillEngineers from Australia have introduced an innovative strategy for converting used face masks into construction materials for roads. This ...
A Tennessee company is recycling wind turbine blades and recovering glass fibre reported to be 99.9% pure for reuse in manufacturingA Knoxville company, Carbon Rivers, is recycling old wind turbine blades. Their process uses heat to separate glass fibre from resin materi...
Americans discard about 15 million tons of asphalt roof shingles a year, but old roofs can be ground up and put straight back into the roads people drive onMillions of tons of asphalt shingles are disposed of annually in the United States. These old roofing materials can be processed into recyc...