Colas complete Recycol evaluation in Coventry

Emulsion-based, cold-applied, in-situ recycling process a proves carbon-saving success

COLAS have completed evaluations on an in-situ cold road reconstruction and recycling technique, with significant carbon savings in comparison with 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 reduce 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-recognized eco-comparator tool, SEVE, Colas have calculated a total of 71% carbon saving over traditional treatments, equating to a total scheme carbon calculation of 30.9 tonnes CO2e vs 106.1 tonnes CO2e 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 other 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 help the sector deliver its 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 utilized and developed to scale up wider decarbonized opportunities within the UK sector.’