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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF RECYCLING ASPHALT
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,...
Arkansas recycled old I-30 concrete in place, avoiding more than 95,000 tons of new stone and about $15,000 in truck fuelArkansas has made strides in sustainable development by recycling old concrete on Interstate 30 near Little Rock. The innovative technique ...
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...
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 1989, Kentucky engineers built a 750-foot road base using about 80 tons of ponded fly ash; the 11% ash section was reported to perform well against the conventional controlAn experimental road base in Kentucky utilized coal plant residue in 1988. Fly ash has been a federal construction material since the 1970s...
In 2011, CEQ, EPA and GSA launched a national electronics plan. 15 years later, 2.4 billion EPEAT products generated $24.6 billion in savings for buyers nationwide2011 strategy emerged at a time when computers, monitors, printers, mobile devices and other electronics were becoming increasingly importa...
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...
In 2026, Texas engineers mixed 4.5 tons of waste plastic into nearly a mile of road; the recycled material replaced 8% to 10% of petroleum-based bitumenInnovative researchers are pioneering the use of recycled plastic to improve the durability of asphalt roads. By substituting a portion of ...
In 2022, Duke students shredded and melted plastics 1, 2, 4 and 5 into bricks; a $248.84 setup produced blocks holding over 5,000 N in compression testsStudents at Duke University embarked on an innovative project, transforming everyday household plastic waste into strong building bricks. T...
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...
In 2012, Chicago’s Railroad Retirement Board found new life for 3,200 pounds of electronics through reuse and recycling; the effort lifted waste diversion nearly 10%The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board successfully recycled over 3,200 pounds of electronic waste. This achievement was driven by federal prog...
In 1993, Taiwan collected 70% of its trash while recycling virtually none. 33 years later, paid bags, musical trucks and sorting helped drive recycling to 55% nationwideTaiwan’s experience therefore challenges the idea that recycling depends mainly on individual environmental enthusiasm. People certainly ne...
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...
How a student turned waste glass into an ‘oyster home’ and won Rs 1.2 lakh awardA Florida high school student, Delaney Peterson, has explored an unusual way to support oyster reef restoration, by turning discarded glass...
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 ...
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...