Skip to main content

Recycled pavement use rises again in the US, according to NAPA

Recycled asphalt use is growing in some markets - David Arminas writes. The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement in the US increased during 2013 after two years of no rise, according the latest report from the US National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). The report found that more than 73 million tonnes of reclaimed asphalt pavement and 1.7 million tons of reclaimed asphalt roofing shingles were used in new asphalt pavement mixes in the US during in 2013. Using recycled asphalt material saved about $2 bill
March 5, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
Recycled asphalt paving is a useful and valuable material for road construction
Recycled asphalt use is growing in some markets - David Arminas writes

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement in the US increased during 2013 after two years of no rise, according the latest report from the US 3464 National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). The report found that more than 73 million tonnes of reclaimed asphalt pavement and 1.7 million tons of reclaimed asphalt roofing shingles were used in new asphalt pavement mixes in the US during in 2013.

Using recycled asphalt material saved about $2 billion in 2013 over the use of virgin materials, the report noted.

The use of recycled material is one of several topics discussed at a major conference (7924 PPRS 2015) on road asset maintenance in Paris, the Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit from February 22-25.

The NAPA/FHWA report said that the number of tonnes of asphalt pavement mixtures produced using recycled and reclaimed materials was predominately flat from 2012 to 2013. This is despite a 2.5% drop in total tonnes of asphalt produced during 2013 compared to 2012.

However, the percentage of tonnes produced using these materials was slightly greater in 2013 than 2012.

The survey was conducted in mid-2014 by NAPA under contract to the 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The report was compiled using results from 249 companies with 1,281 plants in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Also used was information from asphalt pavement associations in 38 states.

A full copy of the NAPA/FHWA report can be downloaded from www.AsphaltPavement.org/recycling.

The issue of saving money but at the same time maintaining road assets is one of the most important discussions globally, especially during these austere times where governments at all levels are seeing budgets drastically reduced. But roads must be maintained or the wider economy will suffer.

“Insufficient maintenance has created a backlog and is affecting service levels,” said Jean-Francois Corte, secretary general of the World Road Association (PIARC), based in Paris.

“What’s needed right now is at least a medium-term vision to embrace the right type of maintenance, a strong strategy. Because there has been insufficient maintenance, road networks are degrading faster. Many highways authorities don’t have this medium- or long-term approach to highway maintenance because they are bound by their government’s annual budgets.”

Attendees to the Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit in Paris will learn how, during these exacting times, to put the business case forward to ensure more investment is there when and where it is needed. Speakers at the event include Bud Wright, executive director of the 3510 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and William Finerty, a vice-president of 178 Caterpillar.

A recent publication by 3141 PIARC, called The Importance of Road Maintenance, is available as a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal free download The Importance of Road Maintenance free download PIARC false http://www.piarc.org/en/publications/technical-reports/ false false%> on the PIARC website.

Related Content

  • Atlas dealers to add Effer cranes to their range
    January 6, 2017
    Crane dealers across the Atlas network will be able to add Effer cranes to the range of products they offer. Effer cranes will be sold, serviced and supported by Atlas dealers in different countries and particularly in Germany and the Middle East. The Atlas display at bauma features a new Atlas AK 955, built by Effer with Atlas colours and branding. Effer and Atlas began working together in the UK market in 2012. Success of the cooperation has led to its expansion worldwide. Atlas’s owner, Fil Filipov, said
  • Atlas dealers to add Effer cranes to their range
    April 15, 2013
    Crane dealers across the Atlas network will be able to add Effer cranes to the range of products they offer. Effer cranes will be sold, serviced and supported by Atlas dealers in different countries and particularly in Germany and the Middle East. The Atlas display at bauma features a new Atlas AK 955, built by Effer with Atlas colours and branding. Effer and Atlas began working together in the UK market in 2012. Success of the cooperation has led to its expansion worldwide. Atlas’s owner, Fil Filipov, said
  • Road engineering conference for Malaysia
    August 22, 2012
    The joint organisers of the Road Engineering Association of Asia & Australasia (REAAA) Conference, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 26 to 28 March 2013, have announced that registration is now open on the event website - www.14reaaaconf2013.com. The theme of the event is The Road Factor in Economic Transformation, the focus of which will be on the development and maintenance of an efficient road infrastructure to meet the demands for sustainable economic growth in developing countries.
  • Dana’s TE30 extends powershift transmission offering
    January 6, 2017
    Dana Holding Corporation used bauma 2013 to reveal its Spicer TE30 powershift transmission for heavy-duty materials handling applications. With five forward and three reverse speeds, the TE30 slots into the range between the TE27 and TE32 transmissions, and is compatible with engines ranging from 225-300kW. The Spicer TE30 transmission benefits from several engineering refinements to improve efficiency. These include decreased spinning speeds of internal components to lower oil churning losses, optimised cl