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A new approach
by Jeffrey Reed
The Rubber Pavements Association looks to
a bright future as more agencies within the US and throughout
the world are beginning to recognize the engineering and environmental
benefits of using scrap tire rubber in transportation applications.
While our association is primarily focused
on using scrap tire rubber in asphalt pavements, we are very
supportive of the current efforts of the FHWA, AASHTO and the
Recycled Materials Resource Center to forge a "Partnership
for Sustainability" for a new approach to Highway Materials.
The concept was developed following an international scanning
program tour of several European countries by representatives
of the above mentioned groups along with the US EPA, state Departments
of Environment and Transportation and the American State and
Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) in September,
1999. The purpose of the tour was to review and document innovative
policies, programs and techniques utilized in other countries
and to evaluate their applicability to US practices.
A year later a workshop hosted by the Texas
Department of Transportation , the FHWA, and the RMRC, brought
a diverse group of State DOT material and environmental specialists,
State EPA beneficial use specialists and several national associations
such as NAPA, RPA and the Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming
Assoc (ARRA) together in Houston. The purpose of the workshop
was to explore ways of implementing the scan findings.
The first day of the conference focused on
knowledge sharing through presentations by the European and US
specialists and the next two days the attendees caucused to find
common ground in utilizing recycled materials within the highway
environment. Needless to say, the DOT and the recycling folks
were surprised to find out how little knowledge existed about
each other's responsibilities and needs. Thus the need for partnerships
became apparent. One of the examples of the lack of coordination
between these two key agencies is the fact that only five state
DOTs have full time recycling coordinators- Texas, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California. Of these states,
Texas DOT, seems to have the most aggressive program in terms
of using scrap tire rubber in pavement. Rebecca Davio, TXDOT
Recycling Coordinator, increased that states use of Asphalt-Rubber
by 43% in the last fiscal year. Her formula for success is very
simple but effective. Her role is to learn as much as she can
about the products containing recycled materials and if feasible
and applicable, pass that information on the TXDOT districts.
She interfaces with the Districts and the vendors to find suitable
projects for the products. Her investigations of the viability
of recycled such products save the Districts time and gives them
a level of confidence that their projects will be successful.
Having witnessed the TXDOT recycling program in action for the
past three years, RPA strongly encourages every state to consider
a Recycling Coordinator within the Department of Transportation.
This will be a start on creating the type of partnerships the
Conference in Houston recommended.
Among other key findings of the Houston Conference are:
National Coordination
National organizations such as the RPA, FHWA,
AASHTO, ASTSWMO, the Dept. of Energy and others should meet on
a regular basis to discuss mutual recycling issue, since each
has a specific responsibility and interest in sustainability
of recycled material usage in the highway facility. The attendees
recommended the leadership of these organizations initiate such
meetings, establish a common agenda and provide an integrated,
cooperative effort through a national steering committee. It
is believed that cooperation by agencies at all levels would
be an incentive to legislators to look at incentives instead
of mandates.
State Coordination
Many states do not have formal contact between
their DOTs and EPAs. It was recommended that each state consider
a formal relationship to address common issues. It was observed
that many state EPAs consider the highway environment as an important
market for recycled materials yet do not seek out the state DOTs
for input or coordination.
Technology, Standards
Engineering and environmental standards vary
from state to state with many engineering standards initiating
material descriptions (often virgin materials which preclude
use of recycled products). It is recommended that a common research
agenda be developed that addresses both the engineering and environmental
properties of recycled materials. It was further suggested
that a common guideline be developed and shared for specific
recycled material products. In addition common testing protocols,
evaluation procedures and other standards should be developed
and shared universally. Using current available knowledge, a
list identifying and categorizing products should be made available
to interested parties.
Marketing, Communication
It was recommended that a good marketing initiative
be developed to dispel the misconceptions that plague the recycling
industry, i.e. recycled materials must be cheaper and meet the
same standards as virgin material, recycling technology varies
from state to state.
The key recommendation was the establishment
of a formal integrated information network for highway engineers
and environmental specialist and the private sector, developing
coordinated facts sheets on specific materials and promote workshop
and conference agendas that address the needs of the both the
engineering and environmental communities.
Planning
It was recommended that early consideration
of recycling, including reuse and off site removal be utilized
in Environmental Impact Statements and in an even wider time
frame, systems planning mode.
Training and Education
It was recommended that integrated training
beneficial to both highway and environmental specialist be considered
utilizing the existing framework of organizations such as the
FHWA, National Highway Institute, EPA or University programs
like the Recycled Material Resource Center in New Hampshire.
At the conclusion of the conference the participants
shared a common goal-to cultivate the use of recycled materials
in transportation and took the first step in taking inventory
of what the needs are of the decision makers and stake holders
in the industry. The next step is for the senior leadership
in key organizations identified in the report to assemble, define
their overall goals and strategies and identify future partnering
structures for achievement of the goal. RPA stands ready to
participate in this effort as we have a success story to share
when it comes to using recycled scrap tires in asphalt pavement.
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