There are so many reasons to recycle. We only have a finite number of our resources on Earth, and it’s typically costly to extract and gather them. Recycling helps us to conserve resources and save on costs. There are lots of things that can be recycled, and at LCI Recycling, we work with practically all of them. One of the materials we recycle the most often is asphalt. We wanted to talk today about what the process of recycling asphalt entails.
The Old Asphalt Will Need to Be Broken Up
The very first step in the process of recycling asphalt is breaking up the old existing asphalt. This is usually done either by using a milling machine or by performing full-depth asphalt removal using excavation tools. Both methods work great to break up asphalt. No matter which method is used, the asphalt chunks will then need to be hauled away to the recycling center. This is typically done by dump trucks, though it can also be done by train if near railroad tracks, or by barge if near water.
Screening at the Recycling Plant
After the chunks of asphalt have been delivered to the recycling plant, they will be crushed even further. Then the asphalt will be screened, making sure no other materials or objects make it any further in the process. Reclaimed asphalt aggregate still contains the tar that originally had held the asphalt together, and this tar will help to hold it together again when it is made wet and then compacted.
Asphalt Chunks Will Need to Be Mixed
Once there are enough chunks of asphalt, they’ll need to be mixed in an asphalt recycler with water and some additives. If using the hot mix asphalt method, the mixture will need to be heated and tumbled for about twenty minutes. If using the cold recycling method, the mixture will only need to be mixed and not heated, which saves on energy usage, further adding to the positive environmental impact recycling asphalt has
Recycled Asphalt Can Be Used for Any Project
If you have a project that requires asphalt, you will be able to use reclaimed asphalt. After receiving the recycling plant’s seal of approval, reclaimed asphalt is ready to be used. Recycled asphalt is just as strong as new asphalt, which means you can use recycled asphalt anywhere you would use fresh asphalt. Many smart project managers opt to save on costs by using recycled asphalt.
Get Some Help from a Professional Asphalt Recycling Company in Maryland
Do you have some asphalt that you want to have recycled? Are you planning to use asphalt in an upcoming project and are thinking about using recycled asphalt? At LCI Recycling, we’ve been recycling asphalt for years and have helped both homeowners and business owners. If you have any questions about the benefits of recycling asphalt or using recycled asphalt, reach out to our team of experienced recycling experts at 301-953-2493 for a free estimate. We look forward to hearing from and working with you!
