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Recycle Texas: A Success
Story
When the Texas Department of Transportation
(DOT) launched its Statewide program encouraging the use of recycled
materials in 1994, in response to a legislative mandate, "no
one really anticipated the great potential recycled materials held
for road construction," says Rebecca Davio of the Texas DOT.
Seven years later, the agency is spending $200 million a year on recycled
products and has kept nearly 2.6 million tons of waste products out
of landfills since the program began.
The agency's initiative "was a team effort," says Davio,
manager of the DOT's Recycling and Recycled Products Program. Success,
however, did not come overnight. "People were very receptive
to the idea of recycling, but anytime you're trying a new idea, it
takes time," she says. Texas kicked off its initiative by surveying
the State's manufacturers to find out about their recyclable materials
that had potential for use in road construction. The DOT also surveyed
its material suppliers to find out if they were both capable of and
willing to process recyclable materials. All of this data was entered
into a Geographic Information System, which provided a graphical representation
of the supply of recycled materials for the State. The agency could
thus direct its staff to materials available in their region.
 |
| size="1">Ten
percent crushed glass was blended with traditional limestone (above)
to form the flex base of this pavement in Abilene, Texas. Crumb
rubber is blended with asphalt (left) to modify and improve pavement
performance. |
Equally important as identifying the
location of recyclable materials is verifying that they work. Texas
requires that recycled materials meet the same engineering standards
as traditional materials and be cost-effective. The largest category
of recycled materials purchased by the State is fly ash, which is
used in concrete and soil stabilization. Also high on the list of
materials purchased is crumb rubber, which is used as an asphalt modifier.
Other materials that have proven successful include using crushed
concrete, reclaimed asphalt pavement, and glass and brick as substitute
aggregates in pavements.
To get its recycling program off the ground, Texas developed a "Roadway
Recycling Strategic Implementation Plan." The plan outlined four
steps for increasing the use of recycled materials:
- Modify specifications to allow
for the use of recycled materials;
- Conduct pilot projects to verify
the engineering, economic, and environmental benefits;
- Facilitate a consistent supply
of high-quality recycled materials; and
- Communicate with members of the
road construction industry and recycled materials generators.
The agency has encouraged the use
of recycled materials by reviewing its construction and maintenance
specifications and eliminating all requirements for new materials.
Texas has also approved several specifications that specifically allow
for the use of recycled materials.
| Make plans now to attend
the first international conference hosted in the United
States on the "Beneficial Use of Recycled Materials
in Transportation Applications." Scheduled for November
13-15, 2001, in Washington, DC, the conference will address
transportation applications for recycled materials generated
from transportation, industrial, municipal, and mining processes.
The conference is intended for researchers, material generators,
equipment suppliers, regulatory officials, engineers, and
others involved in the management of recycled materials.
Conference sponsors include the University of New Hampshire's
Recycled Materials Resource Center, Federal Highway Administration,
National Asphalt Pavement Association, and the National
Association of Counties. For registration and exhibitor
information, contact Warren Chesner at 631-499-1085 (fax:
631-499-1129; email: mail@chesnerengineering.com;
Web: www.chesnerengineering.com/2001conference).
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A series of pilot projects held across
the State were particularly important to the program's success, as
they helped reassure regional engineers that recycled materials would
work. The projects included demonstrating the use of glass as a pavement
base material; incorporating roofing shingles, bottom ash, and crumb
rubber into hot-mix asphalt; and using scrap tire as a lightweight
filler for embankment areas. Some of the demonstrations drew nearly
100 people, including representatives from neighboring States.
To further spread the word, the DOT also targeted the State road construction
industry with information campaigns. For example, 1999 was declared
the "Year of the Recycled Roadway Material," and calendars
featuring a different recycled material per month were distributed
across the State. Each month, a packet of information on the feature
material was sent to DOT engineers, contractors, and local road agencies.
Significant partnerships were also formed with industry. For example,
the Texas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors has supported
the program by forming a recycling committee to educate contractors
about recycled materials.
Texas DOT is now working with material suppliers and city and county
partners to develop customized training programs for different regions
of the State. "We try to make it as easy as possible to use recycled
materials," says Davio. "By taking a more customized, regional
approach, we can tell people 'These are the materials in your region
and here's how you can use them.'" The first customized sessions
are expected to debut this summer.
Texas is also working to improve its program by developing a comprehensive
tracking system for recycled roadway materials usage. Contractors
must now report the type and quantity of recycled materials they use
on a job to qualify for a reduced retainage amount for the project
(The retainage is a percentage of payment withheld until the job has
been completed and accepted). This will provide the most detailed
information to date on the types of recycled materials used on State
projects.
For more information on Texas's recycling program, contact Rebecca
Davio at 512-416-2086 (fax: 512-416-3416; email: rdavio@dot.state.tx.us).
Information, including a copy of the agency's "Roadway Recycling
Strategic Implementation Plan," can also be found online at http://www.dot.state.tx.us/gsd/recycle/.
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The Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) promotes the policy of recycling first. To facilitate
the use of recycled materials in the highway environment,
FHWA has created a new recycling team. The team's role
is to:
- Increase FHWA's and
our partners' awareness of the existing recycling knowledge;
- Identify, foster, and
promote research to develop or test new technology;
- Foster the review,
evaluation, and advancement of emerging technology;
- Identify and help overcome
barriers;
- Coordinate recycling
activities within FHWA; and
- Facilitate coordination
and cooperationwith State highway agencies, State environmental
agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
and industry.
The team is completing
its business plan and developing a White Paper on recycling.
For more information or for assistance, contact one of
the team members listed below:
FHWA
- Bryan Cawley, North
Dakota Division Office, 701-250-4342
- Jason Harrington, Office
of Pavement Technology, 202-366-1576
- Connie Hill, Office
of Natural Environment, 202-366-9196
- Terry Mitchell, Office
of Research, Development, and Technology, 202-493-3147
- Mike Rafalowski, Office
of Pavement Technology, 202-366-1571
- Michael Smith, Southern
Resource Center, 404-562-3694
- Butch Waidelich, New
Hampshire Division Office, 603-228-3057, ext. 120
- Jack Youtcheff, Office
of Research, Development, and Technology, 202-493-3090
Texas DOT
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Other
articles in this issue:
In
brief
States
focus on erosion control in construction and maintenance activities
Recycle
Texas: A success story
Thinking beyond the pavement with context sensitive
design
Highway Technology Calendar
The headquarters for quality
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