Rubber powder modified asphalt, one of the key building materials, is being transported. [Photo/WeChat account of Baotou Daily]

A low-carbon asphalt pavement in Baotou. [Photo/WeChat account of Baotou Daily]

"Since last year, a number of newly built national roads and municipal roads have adopted a new green product – waste tire rubber powder modified asphalt," said Zhi Shougen, deputy general manager of Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co.

"The product can effectively improve the pavement resistance to rutting at high temperatures and cracking at low temperatures, while also reducing road noise by three to six decibels."

Waste tires are a high-quality resource that can also be recycled.

In August 2022, a strategic cooperation project between Baotou city and Beijing University of Chemical Technology was completed and put into operation in the city. This comprised Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co's Low-carbon Asphalt Production Base, and Beijing University of Chemical Technology Green Road Asphalt New Material Industrialization Transformation Base. 

"Our cooperation enables waste tires to be recycled, and the base can consume 30,000 metric tons of waste tires every year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 150,000 tons," Zhi said.

Since the cooperation base has been put into operation, it has produced more than 10,000 tons of rubber powder-modified asphalt from waste tires.

At present, the base uses this rubber powder to modify highway asphalt products, which can directly save the use of asphalt and SBS thermoplastic elastomer rubber.