Asphalt and Aggregate Disposal Dump Site

How to Properly Dispose of Asphalt

To properly dispose of asphalt, it will first need to be broken into chunks and pieces for transportation. Keep in mind that asphalt (whether from driveways, roads, or asphalt shingles) tends to be heavily petroleum-based, which makes biodegradation virtually impossible. Your options for asphalt disposal are essentially limited to recycling it or taking it to an asphalt dumpsite.

Recycling

As it turns out, asphalt is one of the most recycled materials in the US. The Federal Highway Administration reported that about 81% of asphalt from road construction projects gets recycled. It is incredibly easy to recycle asphalt for your construction projects. All you need to do is keep any asphalt you would otherwise dispose of and break it up, creating the aggregate component for new asphalt and reducing your material costs. If you don’t want to keep old asphalt for yourself but still wish to recycle it, look for a community recycling area, an asphalt manufacturer, or an asphalt recycler. Wherever you take it, be sure to check their asphalt disposal regulations, which should tell you what condition the asphalt needs to be in.

Dumping

The other option for disposing of your asphalt is to dump it. Dumping is a much less environmentally friendly option and tends to be less cost-effective for construction companies. In addition to not being biodegradable, asphalt waste disposal tends to take up a significant amount of room in landfills. If you choose to dump the asphalt, it’s especially important to check the landfill’s asphalt waste disposal regulations. Depending on your asphalt chunks’ size and whether or not it’s clean asphalt, it may be charged as trash. If the asphalt you intend to dispose of in a landfill is too large, you may need to do some asphalt crushing before dumping it.

Waste or excess material tends to be a normal part of construction work, albeit an undesirable one. When you end up with asphalt waste, you’ll need to dispose of it somehow, whether that means storing it for future use, recycling it, or dumping it. Which option works best may vary from project to project, so keep your options in mind when deciding how to dispose of asphalt.