Danish asphalt industry hits record recycling but faces municipal barriers

The Danish asphalt industry recycled a record 31.6% of its total production in 2025, but stricter municipal rules are limiting further progress, reports DR.

Last year, 1.3 million tons of the 4.1 million tons of warm-mix asphalt produced in Denmark contained recycled material—the highest level since 1989, according to industry association Asfaltindustrien. Director Jakob Svane called it a “greener way” to produce asphalt, as old road surfaces can be fully reused.

“Asphalt can be 100% recycled,” Svane said. “The old asphalt removed during road maintenance can be directly fed back into production.”

Thomas Engelund, asphalt division manager at contractor Arkil in Næstved, dismissed concerns about quality, stating that properly managed recycled asphalt performs as well as new material. “There’s no evidence it’s inferior—it’s the same components, just reused,” he said.

Industry leaders attribute the recycling surge to internal innovation rather than regulatory changes. Lars Vester, CEO of NCC Kalundborg, noted that producers are optimizing processes to meet existing road standards while maximizing recycled content.

However, municipal procurement rules remain a hurdle. Some local governments cap the allowable percentage of recycled asphalt in contracts, a practice Svane called outdated. “These rules were meant to protect citizens and the environment, but now they’re doing the opposite—slowing the green transition,” he argued.

With demand for virgin stone and gravel rising, industry groups are pushing for updated municipal policies to align with current recycling capabilities.