NCHRP research on post-consumer plastics, sustainable materials

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has released two new research alerts.

NCHRP Alert – NCHRP Research Report 1143: Evaluation of Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics in Asphalt Mixtures via the Dry Process

NCHRP Research Report 1143: Evaluation of Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics in Asphalt Mixtures via the Dry Process. The asphalt pavement industry has a long history of using recycled materials in asphalt mixtures to achieve engineering, economic, or environmental benefits. One example is reclaimed asphalt pavement, which is one of the most recycled materials in the United States.

NCHRP Research Report 1143: Evaluation of Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics in Asphalt Mixtures via the Dry Process, from TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program, evaluates the impact of post-consumer recycled plastics on the performance properties of asphalt mixtures when added using the dry process.

NCHRP Alert – NCHRP Synthesis 643: Use of Sustainable Materials for Erosion and Sediment Control Practices

NCHRP Synthesis 643: Use of Sustainable Materials for Erosion and Sediment Control Practices. Erosion and sediment control (ESC) practices are used to prevent soil loss and reduce sediment-laden stormwater runoff. They could be either temporary or permanent and could be used in construction, maintenance, and operations practices.

NCHRP Synthesis 643: Use of Sustainable Materials for Erosion and Sediment Control Practices, from TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program, documents the current use of plastics in ESC practices across state departments of transportation as well as state DOTs’ policies and plans to reduce or eliminate the use of plastics for ESC practices.