Asphalt, the most well known of construction and demolition material, used to pave roads, seal roofs, and even build a strong foundation for a landfill. Asphalt also constructs playgrounds, driveways, and tennis courts and in the making of newspaper ink. You can recycle old asphalt, making the aggregate for new asphalt. So, before disposing of asphalt, it is important to think about the potential ways it can be recycled and rent a roll-off dumpster to safely take it away to a recycling facility.
Asphalt or bitumen is actually a petroleum based material. Places like the Dead Sea, Pitch Lake (on the island of Trinidad), the “oil sands” of Alberta, Canada, and the “tar sands” of Utah, US, contain asphalt.
Although asphalt is most prominently used in the modern-day construction of roads, ancient civilizations were aware of its many benefits. The Indus Valley civilization used it to line crop baskets, the Egyptians embalmed mummies with it and the Sumerians used natural bitumen for waterproofing or to cement smaller parts of carvings into place.
Bitumen exists as a sticky, black, viscous semi-solid or liquid. As a result, bitumen is used as a “glue” to create asphalt concrete that is used to pave roads, walkways, dams, and airport runways.
Asphalt has such a wide variety of uses. Several kinds of materials are added to the mixture and heated at different temperatures, to create many types of asphalt.
The most common types of asphalt mixtures include:
A hot mix is created by combining 95 percent stone, gravel, and sand, which is held together by asphalt cement and heated to temperatures of 150 C to 180 C.
Lower temperatures produce a warm mix, which means fewer fumes and safer working conditions. It takes longer to cool, but that makes it easier to pour and spread the material.
A cold mix can be created without heating the mixture. It is energy-efficient, used to fix cracks in the pavements and make smooth surfaces for roads.
These mixtures can be used to later create different asphalt products such as:
● Asphalt Concrete (AC)
● Soft Asphalt (SA)
● Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA)
● Porous Asphalt (PA)
● Asphalt for Ultra-Thin Layers (AUTLs)
The production of asphalt is an expensive and energy-intensive process that also has a significant impact on the environment in the United States and across the world. Environmental protection is of utmost concern with asphalt.
Asphalt can catch fire if not settled properly. Inhaling asphalt fumes is dangerous, as it may contain carcinogens, cause shortness of breath, coughing, and skin irritation.
Workers at a milling or distillation plant must constantly wear protective gear and follow safety protocols to guard themselves against toxic materials. Asphalt can also contribute to air pollution in urban areas. Therefore, asphalt cannot be dumped at solid waste landfills.
As a result, instead of simply disposing of asphalt in the garbage it is safer and “greener” to recycle it. There are several recycling facilities where you have the option to drop off reclaimed asphalt shingles and other recycled materials. The numerous benefits of asphalt recycling include:
● You can recycle asphalt several times without affecting its durability and quality.
● It conserves natural resources like oil, sand, and gravel.
● It means less waste in landfills.
● Recycled asphalt has a variety of unique uses, such as for landscaping and other commercial projects.
● It saves money and energy in the long run and produces less pollution for the environment.
Disposing of asphalt may seem a tedious task at first. As a very heavy and crumbly substance, it may damage the rear of your car’s trunk or interior. There are many safe and secure ways to dispose of it, such as the following:
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For a more cost-effective approach, you can rent a roll-off dumpster for a week or so. You can take your time filling it up with asphalt, roof shingles, and other building debris and the dumpster service will be responsible for safely disposing of it.
If there’s a nearby dumpsite or a community recycling center where you live, you can pile up the asphalt at the back of a truck and drop it off at the area.
Another option is to hire a junk removal company and schedule a pick-up. Although it is more expensive, the team will do all the heavy lifting for you, and haul it away to a recycling center.
If there isn’t a community recycling area near you, you can also conder selling off or giving away your old asphalt. You can search online and place an ad on Craigslist, Freecycle, or a similar site. Since asphalt you can recycle asphalt again, you may easily find potential buyers for it.
A dumpster rental from Discount Dumpster can help you dispose of the asphalt in a safe and affordable manner. Rental dumpsters come in a variety of sizes, suitable for different jobs. Unlike a junk pick-up service, Discount Dumpster offers flexible scheduling and cheaper costs. Get in touch today to start your asphalt disposal project!
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