Economic Considerations for Asphalt Pavement Recycling Techniques

While it is desirable for a transportation agency to pursue the recycling of asphalt pavements, the economic assessment to determine the best value among the asphalt pavement recycling options can be a challenge. This issue has been long debated at agency and industry levels. The problem is that there is no “one size fits all” answer to this issue. There are a number of considerations which can influence the outcome of an economic analysis of this issue. Several methods are available for recycling existing hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavement materials into new pavements. Among these are inclusion as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in HMA mix designs, cold in-place recycling, cold plant recycling, and hot in-place recycling. This paper will compile costs related to each of these options, and information about the relative performance of each for use in a benefit cost analysis model. Important factors from a cost standpoint include RAP hauling and processing cost for central plant, vs. on site recycling activities, and the relative benefit (usefulness of) to the recycled pavement. Observation of industry practices have indicated that central plant recycling of HMA material into new plant mixed material is used more heavily where the roads are relatively near the plant facility. Other factors must include the cost of virgin HMA, the impact of recycling on that cost, and the relative useful life of the resulting pavement material. A cost benefit analysis of these factors will help quantify cost effectiveness for asphalt recycling activities.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABE20 Standing Committee on Transportation Economics.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Morian, Dennis
  • Ramirez, Luis
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
• Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Benefit cost analysis; Cold in-place recycling; Economic analysis; Hot in-place recycling; Reclaimed asphalt pavements; Rehabilitation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cold central-plant recycling
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01592567
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-4727
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 2 2016 5:12PM