Most plastics waste is disposed of in landfills though significant amounts of plastics waste ends as litter on land, rivers, and oceans. Less than 10 percent of this waste is recycled annually. The U.S. Congress directed that a study be conducted to review the current use of recycled plastics in transportation infrastructure and evaluate barriers and opportunities for using more recycled plastics in infrastructure.

This webinar will present the findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the recently published Consensus Study report Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities.

Agenda and Presenters

• Introduction – David Dzombak, Carnegie Mellon University
• Plastics properties, production, and markets – Delmar Salomon, Pavement Preservations Systems LLC
• Management and sourcing of plastics waste – Debra Reinhart, University of Central Florida
• Life-cycle considerations – Janie Chermak, University of New Mexico
• Impact of policy and regulations on the use of plastics waste in infrastructure in the U.S. – Debra Reinhart, University of Central Florida
• Applications of recycled plastics in pavements – Randy West, Auburn University
• Applications of recycled plastics in other infrastructure – Cris Liban, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Plastics redesign for recycling – Karen Wooley, Texas A&M University
• Major findings and recommendations – David Dzombak, Carnegie Mellon University