Tarmac makes concrete gains in asphalt recovery

Tarmac has increased its capacity to process recycled asphalt planings (RAP) by investing in a RAP ecological dryer, one of only four units in the UK.


The technology, which has been installed at Tarmac’s Cross Green asphalt plant in Leeds, is capable of using up to 50% RAP – the highest grade permitted to be reused on the local road network.

The RED dryer, which will benefit local authorities, contractors and network operators, accepts a mix of RAP and primary aggregates direct from the existing cold feed system removing the need for any secondary RAP processing equipment.

By increasing its capacity to recycle material which would normally go to landfill, Tarmac will significantly reduce product carbon footprint with the reuse of RAP back into new asphalt.

Tarmac’s director of sustainability Dr Martyn Kenny said that many local authorities are now setting percentage targets for the use of recycled materials in roads.

“With this technology we are supporting customers in meeting their sustainability goals as well as helping them understand the opportunities to reuse recycled materials in their highways projects,” he said.

Meanwhile the company has also been selected to supply specialist concrete for a new energy-from-waste (EfW) plant at Trident Park, Cardiff.

The £3m contract will see the company supply 38,000 cubic metres of concrete for the construction of the £250m plant, being developed by Viridor.

The concrete, which is 100% recyclable, has been specified by Lagan Construction and will be used to construct the facility’s waste transfer bunker.

When completed in January 2014, the facility will process up to 350,000 tonnes of waste per annum and produce 30MW of energy a year using combined heat and power (CHP) technology.

Maxine Perella

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