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...
08 Sep, 2026, 03.44 PM IST
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...
08 Sep, 2026, 01.50 PM IST
A 1998 Texas experiment mixed printer toner into asphalt, and tests found it could make the mix strongerA recent study reveals that adding waste toner to asphalt binder can significantly improve its performance. With just a ten percent additio...
08 Sep, 2026, 01.30 PM IST
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...
08 Sep, 2026, 01.20 PM IST
Irvine coated a half-mile stretch of two connected streets with cool pavement; August and September measurements found the treated asphalt ran about 7-10°F coolerCities worldwide are turning to cool pavement technologies to tackle urban heat. In Irvine, California, treated roads have experienced a re...
06 Sep, 2026, 01.10 PM IST
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,...
05 Sep, 2026, 02.40 PM IST
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...
05 Sep, 2026, 02.20 PM IST
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...
04 Sep, 2026, 07.00 PM IST
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...
04 Sep, 2026, 03.50 PM IST
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...
04 Sep, 2026, 02.20 PM IST
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 ...
04 Sep, 2026, 02.10 PM IST
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...
03 Sep, 2026, 04.00 PM IST
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 ...
03 Sep, 2026, 02.28 PM IST
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...
02 Sep, 2026, 03.22 PM IST
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...
31 Aug, 2026, 03.59 PM IST
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 ...
28 Aug, 2026, 01.50 PM IST
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...
25 Aug, 2026, 01.20 PM IST