When taking core samples, it's best to take samples from both the best and worst portions of the road. As those in the road construction industry know, a core sample taken from one area and another taken a mile down the road can yield two completely different results. One must analyze all the core samples and recycle based on an average of the measurements.

Once the core samples have been taken and the asphalt and base makeup is determined, it's time to put the recycling plan into action. But before one begins grinding the road, they should take time to evaluate the current road width. Many of today's state highways are simply not built to the exact specifications. When embarking on a recycling project, it may make sense to grind a bit wider than the existing road to effectively stabilize the base under what will be the new road. If exercising this option, first utilize a motor grader to scrape the shoulders free of any organic material. The importance of this step should not be taken lightly. Any organic material that gets into the mix will eventually die. Following decay of the material, a void is left in the road's substructure resulting in a possible collapse and destruction of the surface. By simply making a few passes with a motor grader to skive off any organic material, much of this concern can be eliminated.

Once the road's needs have been determined and all organic material has been removed, it's time to grind, or recycle, the road. This process involves grinding both the asphalt and aggregate base together. Again, much of the specifics of this process depend on the core samples. If it is found that the established base is in good shape, one may decide that grinding only a minimal amount of the base material is necessary. On the other hand, if the sub-grade is weak, aggregate can be added prior to recycling to establish a more effective material gradation. Since the most common cause of road failure is a faulty base, full-depth reclamation may be a consideration. Basically, the asphalt recycler uses a spinning rotor with cutting teeth to pulverize the road and base material, leaving the ground-up material in its place. The time it will take for this initial cut will depend on the makeup and hardness of the material, but the core samples should provide a clue. If core samples show that the base is comprised of fine materials, aggregate should be added to the surface of the road prior to grinding. When recycling, material should be pulverized until the proper grade is established. Sometimes this is achieved after the first pass, other times multiple passes may be necessary.

With basic mechanical stabilization, a water truck would be utilized following the recycler to maintain moisture in the ground-up material, acting as a lubricant to facilitate the best compaction. But in other cases, the use of an additive may be necessary to help stabilize the material.

Additives serve many purposes. As with water, some additives act as a lubricant to facilitate compaction. In other cases, they may act as a binder for the material, helping to make the road impermeable to water. Since water is the natural enemy to the structural integrity of any road, impermeability is a key objective.