Recycling Tear-Off Asphalt Roofing Shingles in Asphalt Pavements
Principal Investigator:
Mihai Marasteanu, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Project Summary:
Almost 20% of construction and demolition waste in the Twin Cities metropolitan area is tear-off roofing material, and 90% of this material is potentially recyclable. Currently, 100% of this material is sent to landfills. In 1996, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) adopted a specification allowing up to 5% of manufacturers' roofing shingle scrap in asphalt pavements. However, the use of tear-off shingles generated from reroofing residential buildings is prohibited. Unlike scrap from new shingles, the asphalt in old roofing shingles is highly oxidized, so it is very brittle and cracks easily at low temperatures. Mihai Marasteanu (Civil Engineering) will determine the optimum balance between new asphalt material and recycled tear-off shingles for providing minimum reduction in cracking resistance of asphalt pavements. The research team will work closely with the Mn/DOT Office of Materials and with the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (comprised of commissioners from all metro area counties plus representatives from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) to develop a draft specification for allowing recycled tear-off shingles in asphalt pavements.
Sponsor:
Project Details:
- Start date: 07/2009
- Project Status: Active
- Research Area: Infrastructure
- Topics: None