Which outcome is NOT a benefit of using recycled materials in highway construction?

Using recycled materials in highway construction has multiple benefits that contribute to environmental sustainability and project efficiency. The first three outcomes—improved environmental quality, potential for reduced emissions, and lower initial material cost—are all advantages of incorporating recycled materials.

Improved environmental quality is achieved by diverting waste from landfills and reducing the need for new raw materials, thereby conserving natural resources and promoting sustainability. The potential for reduced emissions is another critical benefit, as using recycled materials often requires less energy to process than producing new materials, which in turn lowers greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing.

Lower initial material cost can result from using recycled materials since they are often less expensive than newly sourced materials. This economic advantage can help reduce overall project costs.

The chosen outcome, increased project duration, does not align with the benefits of using recycled materials. While some might assume that incorporating recycled materials could complicate construction processes or require additional time for testing and quality control, many projects have shown that recycled materials can be implemented efficiently, often without significantly impacting timelines. In fact, using these materials can sometimes even expedite certain phases of construction due to their availability and cost-effectiveness.