This week we are exploring the environmental impact of asphalt plants. It is important to note that many of the possible negatives presented are slowly becoming less relevant. This is due to a gradual, yet steady, modernization and innovation of asphalt plants. Read on to learn how asphalt plants generate an environmental impact.
The Neighborhood Impact
The Issue:
Asphalt plants are not exactly known for being silent, unobtrusive locales. Residents have fair concerns about aesthetic problems, increased traffic, and noise pollution. Additionally, the machinery in the plant is often loud and shakes the ground quite a bit.
The Reality:
As far as traffic and noise goes, it is important for local residents to note that it will peak in summer. However, many plants carefully schedule the pick up schedule of asphalt from the plants. Additionally, larger trucks maximize efficiency so many pavement contractors opt for a fewer number of larger trucks when they can.
As far as aesthetic goes, the most visible part of many asphalt plants are the silos that store the excess asphalt. Those silos traditionally do not look too different from grain silos and are closely regulated by the EPA.
Addressing the noise pollution, most asphalt plants are too deep in an industrial area to impact residential areas. However, it is in their best interests to keep noise as low as they can. While it certainly does produce some noise, many plants minimize sounds in order to help employees. A plant wit htoo much noise means a higher turnover and lower efficiency.
Emissions From The Factory
The Issue:
Nearly every industrial setting produces emissions, so the concern over emissions is fair. Realistically, asphalt plants have the potential to produce quite a few emissions. From the crushing of the rock, to the processing of the binding material, and the mixing of the two, there is room for error.
The Reality:
Emissions at asphalt plants come from fuel combustion for the most part. Fuel combustion keeps the asphalt warm. It also dries and adds heat to the aggregate. Much of th dust and debris from production is caught by a system of baghouse filters. This means that it is never released into the air.
Asphalt plants have smokestacks, and those are what really tend to concern people. Generally, the visible emissions from those smoke stacks are simply water vapor. The vapor originates from the drying of the rock. The filters catch the dust and pollutants while the steam is let out through the smoke stacks.
How Do We Make It More Green?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) keeps a fairly strict eye on asphalt pavement production plants. To keep the current awareness of environmental safety, the EPA simply needs to continue doing their job.
To truly improve, asphalt plants and contractors in general are focusing more on the recycle-ability of asphalt. In theory, all asphalt is recyclable a nearly infinite amount of times. Simply keep re-melting and integrating back into new batches.