Asphalt Shingle Recycling: Recycled Materials Resource Center and Environmental Issues Jenna R. Jambeck, PhD Research Assistant Professor, UNH Recycled Materials Resource Center Chicago, IL November 1-2, 2007

MISSION Overcome barriers to the appropriate use of recycled materials in the highway environment RMRC Overview/History Established in TEA-21 in 1998 National center in partnership with FHWA Focus on the long term engineering and environmental performance of recycled materials in the highway environment Primary activities are research and outreach

Current RMRC Joint venture of University of New Hampshire and University of Wisconsin-Madison -UNH: Kevin Gardner (co-director), Jeff Melton, Jenna Jambeck, David Gress, Colleen Mitchell - UW: Craig Benson (co-director), Tuncer Edil, Hussain Bahia, Andy Graettinger, Phil O’Leary, and Gary Whited

Approach The original Center had seven recycled materials focus areas: 1.Testing and evaluation guidelines and specifications 2.Material-application specific research and development 3.Economic and institutional issues 4.New materials and innovative technologies 5.Field trials of materials 6.Technical services 7.Technology transfer and training

Research Map Over 40 Research projects completed!

Partners: MnDOT, Minn. Office of Environmental Assistance, Minn. Local Road Research Board, SKB Environmental, Bituminous Roadways, Inc. Principal Investigators: Roger Olson, MnDOT & Dan Krivit, Dan Krivit & Assoc. Project Stats: 32 Months (July 2002 – December 2004) Approach: Prepare design documents Two field demonstrations Evaluate demonstrations Project 22 - Overcoming Barriers to Asphalt Shingle Recycling

Other Activities Shingle Recycling Forums 2003, 2007 Provisional Specifications American Association of State Highway and Transportation (AASHTO), "Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Shingle as an Additive in Hot Mix Asphalt: A Provisional Standard Specification (M2005A-TS-2c)" Final publication in preparation. American Association of State Highway and Transportation (AASHTO), "Provisional Standard Recommended Practice for Design Considerations when using Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles in New Hot Mix Asphalt (R2005A-TS- 2c)" Final publication in preparation.

Education and Outreach

RMRC Outreach RMRC sponsored conference sessions RMRC sponsored workshops Beneficial Use of Recycled Materials in Transportation Applications Conference Software and guidance documents Beneficial Use Guidelines - shingles

RMRC Recycled Materials Workshops Four workshops – Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West Attendees – FHWA, State DOT, State Environmental Agencies, US EPA Focus on training recycling/beneficial use coordinators, improving DOT recycling programs Providing a forum for communication

How is sustainability and shingle recycling related?

Sustainability Sustain: to keep in existence; maintain Big picture Sustain the earth Finite resources –Decrease or mitigate negative environmental impacts of human existence –Conserve resources

Environmental Impacts Examine impacts of various options/choices and choose those with the least impact How to quantify? Impacts can be assessed: Greenhouse gas generation (e.g., methane, carbon dioxide) SOx, NOx emissions Toxics released (air, water, soil) Organics – TCE, PBDE, etc. Inorganics – Hg, Pb, etc. Exposure routes may be considered

Conservation of Resources Use as little of our resources as possible Use renewable resources Reuse products already produced Conserves energy Recycle the materials from a product to make a new product No need for virgin materials Extract resources from the product Conversion into energy

Economics In the long run, it doesn’t save to exploit our resources But the immediate cost time frame is critical for a market economy Often times immediate costs and sustainable practices coincide Sometimes more sustainable practices (or switching to them) can result in a greater expense Often there is a payback Many corporations, industries and institutions now see the benefits in practicing environmental sustainability

It can be a difficult balance between environmental impacts, trade-offs and cost… RMRC has experience evaluating risk, benefits and cost.

Partners: MnDOT (MnROAD), NYSDEC, Laboratoire Centrale des Ponts et Chausees (LCPC) Principal Investigators: Dr. Taylor Eighmy & Dr. Kevin Garner, UNH Project Stats: June 2000 – August 2004 Approach: Literature review Model selection Model validation with MnROAD data Develop a risk assessment approach for state regulatory agency use Project 7/8 - Development of a Risk Analysis Framework for Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials Water Table Rise

Sustainable Road Construction Must create a product with consistent high quality From that standpoint, how can we do this in a more sustainable manner? Beneficially use materials; offset virgin materials - shingles Recycle materials Assess environmental burdens and trade- offs of various options Life-cycle assessment

Potential Applications What are potential environment and health impacts of using a material in an application? Context of use Proper characterization Potential receptors and risks Trade-offs Environmental Characterization Shingles Asbestos PAHs

Pavement Life-cycle Assessment Tool for Environmental and Economic Effects (PaLATE) Developed by Arpad Horvath (UC Berkeley) for the Recycled Materials Resource Center

Questions that can be answered: For a particular roadway, which material is better environmentally, economically: e.g., recycled or virgin? Will changing the recycled material content in a particular pavement affect its environmental impact? Does sending demolished portions of a road to a processing plant or to a landfill make more environmental and economic sense? Which maintenance options will minimize environmental and economic effects?

Factors that are considered: Design of the roadway Construction materials, material transportation distances and modes Technology choices – e.g., on-site construction and maintenance equipment (e.g., asphalt paver), and off-site processing equipment (e.g., rock crusher) Life-cycle economic costs

Recycled Material Use Example Conceptual for shingles Crumb rubber surrogate in asphalt Road in NH, 2.6 miles, single lane (31 feet wide) 5.5 inch wearing course, 12 inch base

Energy

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Case Study Results: Energy Consumption (MJ) Initial Construction: Recycling uses 3.5M MJ less energy than use of virgin materials (reduced materials production) Maintenance: HIPR uses 1.5M MJ less than crack sealing & resurfacing. HIPR - equipment processes Crack seal & resurfacing - materials production

Case Study Scenario (2) Divided PA DOT PGH demand into 5 areas defined by a single point City center 25 miles north, south, east and west of city center N S E CC W

Summary The future of utilizing recycled materials, including shingles, fits in with our sustainability concept Life-cycle impacts RMRC will Continue to Be a central resource for technical issues Engineering Environmental Conduct outreach and education Webinars, etc. Be a bridge between stakeholders Let us know how else we can help!

Further information available on RMRC website: Jenna R. Jambeck, PhD Research Assistant Professor Department of Civil/Environmental Engineering University of New Hampshire 244 Gregg Hall, 35 Colovos Rd. Durham, NH Phone: