HOT MIX ASPHALT RECYCLING IN THE NETHERLANDS - THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

When the hot mix asphalt recycling in plant was introduced in the Netherlands around 1970-1980, circumstances were favourable for this kind of innovation. The environmental policy, technical development and economic situation contributed to a successful introduction, supported by the highway authorities in the form of cooperation with the contractors in research and large scale trials. An important condition for the industry to take the challenge for innovations is the expected return on investments. The savings of hot mix asphalt recycling on one hand and the extra costs on the other hand determines this, when comparing with the production of asphalt using 100% new raw materials. The intrinsic value represented of the bitumen and aggregates in the reclaimed asphalt have to be compared with the extra costs for investments in machinery and extra operational costs and costs for quality control. The result of all this depends on the local market situation. Authorities have the possibilities to create circumstances that will stimulate the recycling and thus also influence the economic balance. High waste disposal costs, and prescribing hot recycling in specifications and in contracts will trigger market forces. All these elements were implemented successfully in the program to introduce hot mix asphalt recycling in the Netherlands. Now all asphalt mixing plants in the Netherlands are equipped for hot mix recycling. Almost 70% of the approximately yearly 3 million tonnes of reclaimed asphalt is used in the production of new hot mix. 60% of all the asphalt produced in the Netherlands (yearly total 7-8 million tonnes) contains reclaimed asphalt. Research is underway in order to use the remaining one million tonnes in hot mix recycling too. For the covering abstract see ITRD E125033.

• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • ROOS, H
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 7 p.
• Serial:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEMINAR ON ROAD PAVEMENT RECYCLING, HELD WARSAW, POLAND, OCTOBER 2002 - CD ROM
  • Publisher: World Road Association (PIARC)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Bituminous mixtures; Conferences; Industries; Policy; Recycling; Sustainable development
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• ITRD Terms: 4967: Bituminous mixture; 8525: Conference; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 332: Industry; 8078: Netherlands; 173: Policy; 4573: Recycling (mater); 2427: Sustainability
• Subject Areas: Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00988504
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Apr 4 2005 12:00AM