Putting Earth Day into Practice Every Day: The Recycled Materials Resource Center

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Putting Earth Day into Practice Every Day  The
Recycled Materials Resource Center
Dr. Jeffrey Melton Dr. Craig Benson Dr. Kevin
Gardner April 22nd, 2008
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Webinar Presentations

• Presentation 1 Recycled Materials and the RMRC
  by Dr. Jeffrey Melton. 
• Presentation 2 Engineering properties of
  Recycled Materials by Dr. Craig Benson. 
• Presentation 3 Sustainability in the Highway
  Environment by Dr. Kevin Gardner. 

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History of the RMRC

• Established through TEA-21 in 1998
• National center in partnership with FHWA
• Focus on the long term engineering and
  environmental performance of recycled materials
  in the highway environment
• Main activities are research and outreach
• Annual budget of 1.3 million, majority for
  research
• 20 non-Federal cost sharing

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History of the RMRC

• Additional funding in 2007 from competitive bid
• Partnership with FHWA and University of Wisconsin
• Increased interaction with US EPA, Industry
• Annual budget of 1.5 million with 500,000 from
  FHWA, rest from Pooled Fund and 50 cost sharing
  requirement

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RMRC Research
39 Research Projects
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RMRC Research
U.S. EPA protocol
New recycled materials
State DOT specification
Computational models
New recycling technology
Research Products
ASTM methods
State EPA protocol

• AASHTO Specifications
• Provisional/standard materials
• Specifications
• Guide specification
• Standard method of testing
• Technology ready for implementation

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RMRC Related Standards

• PP 56-06 Evaluating the Engineering and
  Environmental Suitability of Recycled Materials.
  Accepted by AASHTO SOM as a provisional
  recommended practice.
• M 319-02 Reclaimed Concrete Aggregate for Unbound
  Soil-Aggregate Base Course Developed by Project
  13/14 and accepted by AASHTO SOM as a standard
  materials specification.
• MP 9-06 Compost for Erosion/Sediment Control
  (Filter Berms and Filter Socks) Developed by
  Project 21 and accepted by AASHTO SOM as a
  provisional materials specification.
• MP 10-03 (2005) Compost for Erosion/Sediment
  Control (Compost Blankets) Developed by Project
  21 and accepted by AASHTO SOM as a provisional
  materials specification.
• MP 15-06 Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles as an
  Additive in Hot-Mix Asphalt Developed jointly by
  Projects 13/14 and 22, accepted by AASHTO SOM as
  a provisional materials specification.
• MP 16-07 Reclaimed Concrete Aggregate for Use as
  Coarse Aggregate in Hydraulic Cement Concrete
  Developed by Project 13/14, this standard was
  balloted by the AASHTO SOM this winter. If it
  passes, it will be released in the spring as
  provisional materials specification.

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RMRC Related Standards (Cont.)

• M 318-02 Glass Cullet Use for Soil-Aggregate Base
  Course Developed by Project 13/14 and accepted
  by AASHTO SOM as a standard materials
  specification.
• PP 53-06 Design Considerations When Using
  Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles in New Hot-Mix
  Asphalt Developed jointly by Projects 13/14 and
  22, accepted by AASHTO SOM as a provisional
  recommended practice.
• PP XX-XX Coal Combustion Fly Ash for Embankments
  This draft standard is under review by SOM
  Technical Section 1a and should be balloted by
  the Technical Section for the 2008 meeting.
• MP XX-XX Recycled Plastic Pins Used to Stabilize
  Slopes This proposed standard was developed by
  Project 24 and has been submitted to the SOM, but
  has not been assigned to a technical section.
• Under consideration cement stabilized full depth
  reclamation, included recommended practices

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RMRC Outreach

• Website www.recycledmaterials.org
• RMRC sponsored conference sessions
• RMRC sponsored workshops
• Beneficial Use of Recycled Materials in
  Transportation Applications Conference
• Software and documents

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RMRC Workshop Map
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RMRC Recycled Materials Workshops

• Four workshops Northeast, Southeast, Midwest,
  West
• Invite SOM, SCOE, FHWA, State EPA, US EPA
• Focus on training new Recycling Coordinators,
  improving DOT recycling programs
• Improve communication

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RMRC Workshop Format

• Four major material-application modules
• Overview of the Toolbox
• Overview of environmental characterization
• Review of successful recycling programs
• Discussion of region specific issues

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Moving Forward
RMRC MISSION The RMRC will develop and
distribute technology needed to use recycled
materials in the transportation infrastructure in
a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner.
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Plan

• Develop specifications, standards, and design
  guides that provide all information needed to
  design and evaluate use of a recycled material in
  transportation construction.
• Through outreach mechanisms, get these adopted
  and used by states and municipalities.

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Looking Ahead

• RMRC is optimistic about ability to facilitate
  real change recycled materials use.
• GRESTTM , materials exchanges and other
  initiatives we expect to lead to increased use.
• We hope to be able to supply regulators with
  decision analysis tools to assist them in
  assuring wise uses of materials.
• We are here as a resource to anything that
  assists in achieving our vision.

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Pooled Fund Study
RMRC Pooled Fund Solicitation Recycled Materials
Resource Center www.pooledfund.org id 1177 4
Years, 20 states, 30K for 3 years, 23k for the
4th year www.rmrc.unh.edu/rmrc-proposal.asp