When people think of asphalt paving, they often do not realize that it’s one of the most sustainable material options for highways, roads, parking lots, and driveways. The team at Cassidy Paving wants to help educate everyone on the ways that asphalt is “green”, aka environmentally-friendly. We understand that our customers across New England are increasingly interested in sustainability, so here are the top three ways that asphalt is actually a green and long-lasting material.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
One of the priorities of sustainability is reducing waste and the asphalt paving industry is leading the way. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in the United States, we recycle more than 80 percent of the 90 million tons of asphalt pavement reclaimed each year in the country. There is no other paving material that can compete with asphalt in this respect. By recycling and using this reclaimed material we are reducing the amount of asphalt in landfills. Our industry has a long history of using materials as long as possible and we pride ourselves on innovation.
Milling and Reclamation
Cassidy Paving takes part in recycling and reusing materials through our milling and reclamation process. Asphalt milling is the process of removing the top layer of asphalt pavement, recycling, and repurposing the material to be used elsewhere in the pavement life-cycle process. Our goal is to always use as much as we can to help our environment and the customer’s budget. This is a great option for those with minimal pavement damage that want to just get things smooth and lessen the chance of potholes in the future.
Porous Pavement
One modern solution for environmentally-friendly asphalt applications is porous pavement. The Green Building Alliance sums it up best: “permeable pavement (also known as pervious or porous) is a specific type of pavement with a high porosity that allows rainwater to pass through it into the ground below”. This material type allows for a natural flow of water into the ground. It helps the environment by eliminating runoff, recharging groundwater, trapping pollutants, reducing surface temperatures, and eliminates the need for retention bases. Cassidy Paving recommends using this green solution for the right applications due to its durability and environmentally-friendly benefits. With the sometimes stormy springs and the cold winters, this will help the subbase stay intact regardless of the weather. It also means that you won’t have to worry as much about the thaw/freeze cycle that often leads to the contraction and expansion that causes cracks.
Install Green Asphalt Now
If you are someone that looks for the most sustainable ways to do even the most routine things, we encourage you to remember these green asphalt options. It is possible to be green in more ways than the obvious. If you live in Massachusetts and have paving needs, give us a call today, at 866-978-9788. We offer free estimates and our work is guaranteed for 5 years on all new full-depth work. We look forward to making the world a greener place with you!
