Recycled old tires could make roads last twice as long
Prolonged sun exposure is one of the main contributors to asphalt cracking. That’s because the heat from the sun dries up the road’s moisture content, making it brittle and prone to wear. A team of scientists has found that adding rubber from old tires to asphalt can help roads last twice as Read More...
This startup uses a plant-derived material to make roads carbon negative
Similar to building new roads, repairing existing ones is not an environmentally friendly endeavor. One of the main problems is bitumen, a fossil fuel-derived binder that holds asphalt together. A startup in Norway is recycling old roads using a plant-based binder instead, a process that could Read More...
More cities are using beets to beat icy winter roads
Many cities with harsh winters turn to salt to melt ice and make roads safer, but while this helps out drivers, it doesn’t do the environment any favors. Fifteen to 17 million tons of road salt are used on US roadways each winter, contaminating waterways and natural ecosystems while degrading Read More...
Spray on road treatment cools cities and absorbs exhaust fumes
The heat island effect can make temperatures in cities ten degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas. This is not only uncomfortable for residents but can also have dangerous health impacts during heat waves. To address this issue, Pavement Technology Inc. has created a new treatment for roads Read More...
Scientists mix old tires and construction waste to make sustainable roads
Construction, renovation, and demolition account for about half the waste produced annually worldwide, while around 1 billion scrap tires are generated globally each year. The two issues may not seem to have a direct link with one another, but scientists in Australia have blended the two sources of Read More...
"Anthropause": 2020 has been a great year for conservation on our roadways
Among its disastrous effects on human populations, the pandemic has offered some reprieve for the environment. We discussed how quieter cities contributed to thriving bear populations in Yosemite and blue whale gatherings off the coast of San Francisco. Although not as glamorous as other areas of Read More...
Plastic waste could soon be used to pave the roads you drive on
Last year China stopped accepting much of the world’s recyclable waste. Since then, many countries have been faced with the challenge of how to deal with their own trash. In Australia, however, recycling company Close the Loop has figured out a way to divert that trash from landfills and the Read More...
From oil to microalgae: the race to sustainable bioasphalt is on
Standard asphalt is composed mostly of bitumen, a byproduct of crude oil distillation. Like concrete, its production is resource-, carbon- and energy-intensive. It is also a poor choice to pave roads, since it easily cracks and degrades into potholes, requiring frequent and expensive maintenance. Read More...
Solar roads are the way of the future
If a six-month experiment in the Netherlands is any indication, roads paved with solar panels can provide a solid alternative for renewable energy generation. So far, results have exceeded expectations. In this context, it is encouraging to know that similar projects are brewing in the United Read More...