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WHAT WASTE MATERIALS ARE USED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION
In 2022, Ontario's Durham Region used 400 tonnes of glass in a 3.6-km road pilot. 4 years later, it could reuse 240 tonnes of PET each year across Durham roads under its planDurham Region is testing recycled materials for road construction. Recycled glass and plastic will be used in a road rebuilding project. Th...
In 2022, a Washington State lab study replaced 20% of cement with recycled glass powder; 56-day strength rose 19% with steel milling, while surface resistivity improved 150% with ceramic millingWashington State University engineers are testing recycled glass powder as a cement substitute. This waste material could potentially impro...
In 2019, Australia's Central Coast Council used 631,000 plastic bags, 117,000 bottles and 14,400 printer cartridges on a 600-metre road. 7 years later, the project remains a striking waste-to-road example across the regionCentral Coast Council is now using recycled soft plastic and glass in road surfacing. This innovative product, Reconophalt, diverts thousan...
New York is building a $21.2 million bridge with recycled glass, 106 tons of waste will become part of the concreteA bridge project in New York is pioneering the use of recycled glass in its concrete mix. This groundbreaking technique not only keeps wast...
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...
Pennsylvania used 5,570 tons of shredded tires in the Tarrtown Bridge approaches; project estimated to save about $514,000Discarded tires are being creatively transformed into lightweight aggregate for use in road construction. This innovative method not only a...
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...
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...
A Nigerian engineer built his first model house with 14,800 sand-filled plastic bottles; the experiment later grew into 15 houses, including a five-bedroom duplexNigerian engineer Yahaya Ahmed is building homes using thousands of discarded plastic bottles. His initiative has constructed up to fifteen...
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 2009, Illinois used 38,881 tons of fly ash in highway construction; IDOT reported spending $1.75 million while reducing landfill use and cement demandIllinois highways are increasingly integrating fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, as a sustainable option for road construction. This...
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 2020, Southwest University researchers treated rice husks with acid and burned them into ash; replacing 10% of cement with the ash increased compressive strength by 16.22% after 56 daysChinese researchers have found a way to strengthen cement using burnt rice husks. This agricultural waste, when treated and added, signific...
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...
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 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 ...