1. The Limitations
While recycling has improved over the past few decades in terms of material functionality, there remain a few limitations. First, while the gradation control of recycled materials compares favorably to the gradation quality of virgin materials, abrasion does tend to be different. Additionally, there have been prior instances of contaminants found in recycled materials.
2. The Benefits
The substantial benefits of recycling offset its limitations, though. There are two main reasons to recycle concrete and asphalt. The first is efficiency – often, the cost to recycle material is less than the cost of disposing of material in a landfill. That, coupled with the cost savings on the use of recycled material, makes recycling an economically appealing option.
Secondly, recycling is more environmentally friendly. Not only does recycling reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfills, but it can also reduce transportation mileage, especially if crushing is done onsite via a portable crusher.
Lastly, using recycled materials extends the life of natural reserves. This assists in providing natural resources for tomorrow by recycling today.