APE July 2020 | Page 18

EXPERT ADVICE Producing cement, an essential component of concrete, releases high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the atmosphere. VOC emissions are harmful to the environment and contribute to ozone depletion. Asphalt is a petroleum-based paving material. Drilling for oil also requires a significant amount of energy and the environmental hazards associated with extracting oil have been well documented. Environmental impact does not end at the manufacturing stage. Paving new roads and parking lots disrupts the underlying soil and water table. Soil beneath the paved surface that would otherwise guide rainwater into underground streams and eventually into rivers and waterways immediately dries up. Rainwater instead is channeled into engineered drainage systems that direct the water into municipal sewage systems before dumping it into rivers and lakes. Further, striping paints and sealers for roads and parking lots often use petroleum in their formulation and/or feature high- VOC emissions. Although producing materials and placing new pavement is wrought with environmental consequences, the use of reclaimed asphalt you can mitigate the impact. There are other benefits of using recycled pavement versus new virgin asphalt. “To me, there are three distinct benefits to using recycled asphalt pavement--cost, availability, and new opportunity,” stated Greg Harla, part owner of Pavement Recyclers/Bagela USA, Shelton, Conn. “The cost with large volumes of recycled blacktop can cost as little as $19 per ton, all in. With regard to availability, RAP can be produced any time, anywhere. In many parts of the country, asphalt production plants close for the off-season, so many, many of our customers can continue to work, installing infrastructure, patching/repairing, etc. And with respect to new opportunity, quite a few of our customers sell material during the off-season using their Bagela recycler.” In terms of durability, RAP matches new asphalt. “In pothole repair operations, RAP is generally considered to be a very acceptable product from a durability standpoint,” Simon said. “In most operations that we see, recycled asphalt product can be used to produce very high-quality, long-lasting pothole repairs.” Reclaimed asphalt definitely has its role. “Like any asphalt application, the durability and longevity will depend on the application method and preparation,” Blake stated. “If the recycled asphalt was produced properly--meaning it encompasses 3-5% asphalt cement and all other factors are equal--RAP could last just as long as virgin hot mix asphalt.” Harla said: “Several of our customers, that strictly pave, will use recycled mix for the base and top with graded plant mix. By doing so, the recycled mix provides a strong base and the thinner top, is icing on the cake!” Recycled asphalt pavement is a useful alternative to virgin materials because it reduces the need to use virgin aggregate, which is a scarce commodity in some areas of the United States. It also reduces the amount of costly new asphalt binder required in the production of asphalt paving mixtures. BOOST YOUR SEALER’S PERFORMANCE OF4 BY THE POWER Faster Contains Drying Improved Excellent 1 2 Blackening 3 Times Durability 4 Night Time Agents Performance www.StarSeal.com 800-759-1912 Our additives will perform to the standards you have come to expect and trust from STAR ® branded products! Download the sealcoating contractors resource app For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry [18] TO ORDER STAR Advantage-4 visit starseal.com/advantage-4 www.callape.com 1.800.210.5923