COLAS IN-SITU RECYCLING TECHNIQUE PROVES CARBON SAVING SUCCESS

Colas has completed evaluations on an in-situ cold road re-construction and recycling technique, with significant carbon savings in comparison to traditional surface treatments.

The in-situ recycling technique, Recycol is an emulsion-based, cold-applied, in-situ recycling process, that recycles 100% of the binder course back into the new road. The process was developed by the global Colas Group and has been in use in France for several years. With the UK striving to lower carbon emissions, Colas were keen to bring the knowledge to the UK, and Coventry City Council, with their forward-thinking approach to carbon reduction in the city, embraced the opportunity to be the first in the UK to use the Recycol process.

Using an industry recognised eco-comparator tool, SEVE, Colas have calculated a total of 71% carbon saving over traditional treatments, equating to a total scheme carbon calculation of 30.9tCO2e, vs 106.1tCO2e with alternative binders. There were also additional savings achieved in process energy, and resources used throughout the trial.

In partnership with Coventry City Council, three residential, straight road locations were selected for the trial, which included a live demonstration with Local authorities and National Highways invited to observe the process on site.

David Ogden, Executive Director Asset and Maintenance at Colas said “We were delighted to bring a new in-situ recycling technique to the UK to support the sector deliver our collective Net Zero targets. It was great to collaborate with Coventry City Council to introduce this exciting new process and learn together how different solutions can be utilised and developed to scale up wider decarbonised opportunities within the UK Sector.”