Port of Rotterdam: cyclists can enjoy a like-new bike lane, thanks to a bio-based ‘rejuvenator’ for recycled asphalt

Port of Rotterdam
Type of organisation or company
Country
Netherlands
City
Rotterdam
Language for original content
Project elaborated in partnership
Yes
Submitted by
Platform Holland Circular Hotspot
Start/End date
Ongoing
Yes
Type of funding
Port of Rotterdam
Description

The Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Municipality of Rotterdam partnered with KWS Infra and Arizona Chemical to deploy recycled asphalt.

This recycled asphalt, developed by the two firms, can be restored up to its original specifications. A bio-based "rejuvenator", the raw material which is extracted from by-products of pine trees used in the paper industry, is used to make the asphalt useful again.  This type of recycled asphalt was used to construct the subbase, base course and surface layer of the paving of a bike lane in Rotterdam's Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H).

This was the first time that completely recycled asphalt was utilized on its own. The utilization for the bike lane showcases the potentially for this type of asphalt to be used on its own, or associated with non-recycled asphalt.

Main activity field
Identified challenge (s)
Main results

By adding a biobased ‘rejuvenator’ produced by Arizona Chemical, the properties of recovered asphalt can be restored to their original specs, with a cut of 27% in carbon emissions compared to using virgin asphalt. The raw material for this product is obtained from by-products of pine trees used in the paper industry.In addition, asphalt that is due to be replaced or that has become redundant is sorted locally and re-used somewhere else in the city. A circular solution that can give recycled asphalt from south Rotterdam a new life in north Rotterdam, for example.