The State of HMA Recycling in the U.S.

In this article the author discusses recycling in the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) process in the U.S., suggesting that more can be done to increase the amount of recycled HMA. The high cost of several construction elements and new zoning requirements make it difficult to site factors like reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). In response to these setbacks, the RAP Expert Task Force (ETG) was formed. The article outlines the ETG’s approach to addressing these problems and ways in which they completed each goal, including surveys and illustrations of responses through figures, finding that a majority of issues can be addressed through changes in technology. The article notes the implementation of Superpave and its inability to accommodate necessary aggregate gradation control. Finally, the article discusses current movements underway to promote RAP in the future.