Recycling End-of-Life Bituminous Membranes in Asphalt Mixtures: A Laboratory Study

The circular economy (i.e., reuse and recycling of waste materials) is gaining attention for the goal of achieving net-zero waste. In this regard, the use of waterproofing membrane waste in bituminous materials can be a valid option, as every year, a lot of bituminous membrane wastes are generated both as production scraps or end-of-life wastes. Given this background, the recycling feasibility of end-of-life bituminous membrane waste (MW) in asphalt mixtures was assessed in this research study. To this aim, MW shreds (≤20 mm) were added to dense-graded bituminous mixtures using the dry-mixing method. The shreds were dosed at 0.5% by the mix weight (mix coded as SH−) or at 2% by mix weight (mix coded as SH+). A corresponding reference mix without MW was also tested for comparison purposes. The mixtures’ workability, strength and stiffness as well as permanent deformation, moisture and fatigue resistance were evaluated. Overall, the laboratory experimental findings showed that MW-modifie...