Why is Asphalt Recycling Important?

As a Minneapolis asphalt paving company, ACT Asphalt Specialties gets a lot of questions about why the asphalt recycling process is important for protecting the environment and building our roadways. It is our goal to help customers understand the benefits of reclaimed asphalt pavement.

Americans depend on asphalt roads in order to get to work, run errands, and drop their kids off at school. For this reason, it’s important that we think carefully about how much asphalt waste we are putting into landfills and how to reuse old asphalt.

Here’s why asphalt recycling is important for the environment and your budget.

Saves Scarce Natural Resources

When we recycle old asphalt, we demand less aggregate and asphalt to be mined, quarried, and transported to our communities. Being able to reduce how much new asphalt material we need through recycling protects scarce natural resources.

Since recycled asphalt has less impact on the environment than virgin asphalt, it contributes to LEED credits. If you are planning on getting your building LEED certified, you may want to ask around about recycled asphalt.

The Minneapolis asphalt paving contractors at ACT Asphalt Specialties care about helping customers understand there are “greener” ways to pave asphalt. We are also dedicated to making sure you are satisfied with our quality of work for your next parking lot or driveway paving project.

Saves Energy

It takes a lot of energy to produce asphalt. Not only does asphalt have to be quarried and mined from the ground, but it also has to be transported long distances before it reaches your asphalt paving contractor. The materials used for recycled asphalt, on the other hand, are usually crushed asphalt from local parking lots or driveway resurfacing. In other words, when old asphalt is removed, it can be reused to pave roads, parking lots, and driveways.

Reduces Landfill Waste

Asphalt is 100% recyclable, which means that we can significantly reduce landfill waste. In fact, recycling prevents 75 million tons of asphalt from filling up landfills in the United States. Landfills last longer when we reduce how much waste we put into them, which is just one of many reasons why asphalt recycling and milling is important.

Saves Money

Recycled asphalt is just as durable as virgin asphalt for a fraction of the cost. Asphalt recycling allows contractors to save money on each ton recycled. When asphalt paving contractors pay less for materials, this also translates into a lower cost for consumers. In fact, the National Asphalt Pavement Association estimated that taxpayers saved more than $2 billion in 2013 because 1.65 million tons of recycled asphalt was used for paving projects. The recycled asphalt cost is significantly less than that of virgin asphalt.

Request an Estimate for Recycled Asphalt

ACT Asphalt Specialties Co. is an asphalt recycling contractor serving Minneapolis, MN, and surrounding areas. To request an estimate for recycled asphalt, please call (651) 484-1696. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.

This blog post has been updated.