BMW Introduces Circular Asphalt on Bonaire: 20% Recycled Content and 5% Cost Reduction

KRALENDIJK – The Bonairean Road Construction Company (BWM) has taken a new step toward more sustainable road maintenance on Bonaire. For the first time, asphalt containing 20 percent recycled material is being used on a project for a client. According to Martijn Zwiers, this not only delivers environmental benefits, but also results in a cost saving of approximately 5 percent.

On Thursday, May 28, a group of representatives from various Bonairean companies was given a tour of BWM. Visitors were taken behind the scenes at the asphalt plant in Santa Clara and also visited a project near the football stadium in Rincon, where the new asphalt mix is being applied. Representatives from several political parties were also in attendance.

New Project

According to Zwiers, this is the first time the new method has actually been deployed for a client. “We have run trials and laid test sections before, but this is the first time we are applying it on a project for a client,” he explained during the tour. “That also makes us the first on the ABC islands to use this technique.” Colleagues from BWM in Curaçao were also present to see how the new asphalt was being applied on Bonaire.

The recycled asphalt is sourced from existing roads that are broken up or milled. This material is incorporated into new asphalt, reducing the need to import new raw materials. The current mix consists of 20 percent recycled asphalt, but according to Zwiers, even higher percentages may be achievable in the future. The technique is already widely used around the world, particularly in Europe and North America.

Production Costs Fall

In addition to the sustainability gains, the innovation also delivers a financial benefit. Because fewer new materials need to be purchased from abroad, production costs decrease. “On the asphalt product itself, we achieve roughly a five percent cost reduction, a saving we can also pass on to our clients,” said Zwiers.

At BWM’s laboratory, visitors also received an explanation from Jason Benito, who demonstrated how the quality of the asphalt is continuously monitored. By regularly taking samples and conducting measurements, it is ensured that the asphalt meets the required standards before it is laid on the road.