Asphalt Paving Blog

Recycled Concrete Aggregate and the Need for Sustainability

Wolf Paving is proud of the asphalt recycling we do.  We recycle 100% of the asphalt we remove from job sites, plus we accept recyclable material from other contractors.  But asphalt isn’t the only building and paving material that can be recycled.  Another material we focus on is concrete recycling and reuse. 

Why Recycle Concrete?

There was a time when the majority of used concrete was sent to a landfill.  Not only does it take up a large amount of landfill space, which is increasingly at a premium, but it costs money (as much as $0.25 per ton per mile) and resources to transport it and/or dispose of it (as high as $100 per ton).  Then more money and resources go toward creating all-new concrete.  These days, about 100 million tons of concrete is recycled annually.concrete recycling

How Is Concrete Recycled?

Most concrete is fairly simple to recycle.  Essentially, the concrete is broken, removed, and crushed into a specified size and quality.  Other materials, such as reinforcing steel, and contaminates, such as asphalt, have to be removed during this process as well.  Once the material is clean and of the right consistency, it can be reused just like new concrete. 

At Wolf Paving, we think concrete recycling is an important part of our overall sustainability efforts.  We take recycled concrete and crush it for later use.  We might use it as an aggregate when making new asphalt to be used on highway paving projects, for example.  Additionally, we recycle asphalt shingles, other old asphalt, and oil, so our projects are about as green as we can get them!

Looking for an asphalt contractor that truly cares about sustainability?  You’ve found them.  Contact Wolf Paving today!

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Topics: Asphalt Recycling, Concrete Recycling, Aggregate