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https://www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting/Registration.aspx

Recycled Materials Resource Center - 4th Generation

For more than 30 years, State DOTs have made significant progress incorporating recycled materials and industrial byproducts in transportation infrastructure. Recycled materials can add economic value, enhance service life and promote sustainability by reducing emission of greenhouse gases and consumption of energy and natural resources during construction. Despite these benefits, many recycled materials remain underutilized due to technical and institutional barriers. The Recycled Materials Resource Center (RMRC) was created to assist State DOTs and FHWA in breaking down these barriers through research and outreach activities focused on the wise and safe use of recycled materials. The initial RMRC was founded in 1998 at the University of New Hampshire through an agreement with FHWA based on a stipulation in TEA-21. From 2007-2012, the RMRC was renewed as RMRC-2 as a joint venture between the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. RMRC-2 was awarded competitively and funded by FHWA and by a state pooled fund, TPF5(199), supported by Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York and Wisconsin. In the summer of 2012, the RMRC was renewed as RMRC-3G as a single venture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) and funded by a pooled fund, TPF-5(270), supported by Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. The contract for RMRC-3G ends on September 30, 2016, and a new fourth generation RMRC (RMRC-4G) is being proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) building upon past strengths of the RMRC. State DOTs have developed considerable interest in using recycled materials in transportation construction and are seeking technical information regarding appropriate uses and best practices for existing and forthcoming recycled materials. With past research and known use of recycled materials, DOTs are seeking to understand the highest and best use of recycled materials. Thus, to maintain momentum regarding the use of recycled materials in transportation infrastructure, with emphasis on enhancing sustainability, service life and cost savings, WisDOT proposes to take the lead the next generation of the RMRC. The goal of the proposed RMRC-4G is to provide the resources and activities needed to break down barriers and increase utilization of recycled materials and industrial byproducts. This will be done through carefully integrated and orchestrated activities that include applied research in key areas relevant to transportation applications combined with outreach programs that provide the educational and technical resources needed to maximize the rate at which recycled materials and industrial byproducts are used in transportation applications. RMRC-4G would be supported by a new pooled fund and focus specifically on issues of direct relevance to the contributing state DOTs. The governance structure would include a pooled fund Technical Advisory Committee (the Executive Board) comprised of representatives of participating State DOTs as well as an ex-officio member as the study liaison assigned by the Federal Highway Administration. The Executive Board will have direct input on the activities and priorities of RMRC-4G through a balloting process.

Language

  • English

Project

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01857064
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
  • Contract Numbers: TPF-5(352)
  • Files: RIP, USDOT
  • Created Date: Sep 4 2022 2:54PM