Recyclability and environmental impact of typical solid waste materials (rubber, RAP, SS) in asphalt mixtures: a state-of-the-art review
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The utilization of solid waste material (SWM) in sustainable asphalt pavement is one of the key paths to achieving carbon peaking and neutrality. It is imperative to seek a balance between service performance and environmental impacts of sustainable asphalt pavement. This paper makes a state-of-the-art review on recyclability and life cycle assessment of SWM in sustainable asphalt pavements based on recent five-year literatures. According to scientometric analysis results, three typical SWM, crumb rubber (CR), reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and steel slag (SS), are selected to be mainly discussed over the service performance and environmental impacts via life cycle assessment. Especially, influences of material properties or production design of SWM are critically highlighted, including the CR particle size and treatment methods, strategies of RAP to mitigate performance deterioration, and enhancement mechanisms of SS in asphalt mixtures. Further, the current major research gaps and application limitations associated with SWM utilization are concluded, including the trade-offs between the environmental impacts of CR production and the service performances, the uncertainties in binder blending and rejuvenation efficiency of RAP, and the volume expansion and heavy metal leaching of SS asphalt mixtures.
Authors: Zijun Xu, Yilin Wang, Zekang Sun, Guoyang Lu, Thomas Ng, Wisal Ahmed
Institutions: City University of Hong Kong, Shandong University
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $517
Funder: City University of Hong Kong
OpenAlex ID: W7154463997