1. Life Cycle Analysis of Drainage Pipes
Daniel Currence, P.E.
Director of Engineering – Drainage Division
Plastics Pipe Institute
Beverly Sauer
Sr Life Cycle Analyst and Project Manager Franklin Associates, A Division of ERG

2. Earth Day Network, the organization that leads Earth Day world-wide, has chosen as the theme for 2018 to End Plastic Pollution
EDN has built a multi-year campaign to End Plastic Pollution. Our goals include ending single-use plastics, promoting alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials, promoting 100 percent recycling of plastics, corporate and government accountability and changing human behavior concerning plastics.

3. Plastic Waste Changes & Data University of Georgia Study
China has stopped importing nearly half of the worlds’ plastic waste as of January 2018 (mainly from wealthiest nations)
Approximately 72% of the world’s plastic waste went to China & Hong Kong since 1992 w/HK passing on 63% to China.
Waste management facilities are struggling to process the excess waste. Some states are now allowing recyclable materials into landfills
2016: California exported 500K tons of low grade plastic to China
An estimated 111 million metric tons could pile up by 2030

4. Buy Clean California Act
Executive Order B issued by Governor Brown stipulates that “State agencies shall take climate change into account in their planning and investment decisions and employ full life-cycle cost accounting to evaluate and compare infrastructure investments and alternatives.”
BCCA In carrying out its duties under this article, an awarding authority shall strive to achieve a continuous
reduction of emissions over time.

5. ASTM F17 Standards corrugated HDPE drainage pipe
Revision ASTM F change incorporating recycled resins in final phase of process
New ASTM F “Standard Practice for Determining Sampling and Testing Frequency for Recycled Materials in Polyethylene Pipe for Non-Pressure Applications”

6. AASHTO M294 corrugated HDPE drainage pipe
All material properties and performance expectations specified in M294 are identical for pipe made with virgin or recycled resins
pipe stiffness
impact strength
flattening
stub compression
dimensions
workmanship
same cell classification C
same NCLS criteria

7. AASHTO M294 corrugated HDPE drainage pipe
Pipes manufactured with recycled materials must also meet the following criteria:
Average UCLS failure time must exceed a minimum calculated value to ensure that service life exceeds 100 years
Minimum OIT of 20 minutes (ensures resistance to Stage III chemical failure)
Elongation at break must exceed 150% (redundant contaminant test)

8. From Curb to Infrastructure <1 yr life-cyle to >100-yr service life

9. Life Cycle Analysis Methodology
Drainage Pipe Materials
Corrugated HDPE (virgin)
Corrugated HDPE (50% recycled content)
PVC
Reinforced Concrete (RCP)
Corrugated Steel with aluminized coating
Life Cycle Stages Pipe production Pipe Transportation Excavation Installation Gaskets In Service (cleaning) End of Life (Leave in Place)

10. Life Cycle Assessment Methodology
ISO 14040:2006 Environmental Management—Life Cycle Assessment - Principles & Framework
ISO 14044:2006 Environmental Management – Life Cycle Assessment – Requirements & Guidelines

11. Life Cycle Assessment Functional Unit
24” (600 mm) diameter drainage pipe
1,000 linear feet (305 m)
Trench installation (10 ft of cover/3 m)
100 year service life assumed for all material types
End of Life – leave in place

12. Life Cycle Assessment Categories
Total Energy Demand (MJ)
Solid Waste (kg)
Water Consumption (L)
Emission Categories
Global warming potential (kg CO2 eq)
Acidification potential (kg SO2 eq)
Eutrophication potential (kg N eq)
Ozone depletion potential (kg CFC-11 eq)
Smog formation potential (kg O3 eq)

13. Total Energy Demand (MJ/1000 ft of pipe used for 100 years)

14. Solid Waste (kg/1000 ft of pipe used for 100 years)

15. Water Consumption (L/1000 ft of pipe used for 100 years)

16. Global Warming (kg CO2 eq/1000 ft of pipe use for 100 yrs)

17. Acidification Potential (kg SO2 eq/1000 ft of pipe use for 100 yrs)

18. Euthrophication Potential (kg N eq/1000 ft of pipe used for 100 yrs)

19. Ozone Depletion Potential (kg CFC-11 eq/1000 ft pipe use for 100 yrs)

20. Smog Potential (kg O3 eq/1000 ft of pipe used for 100 yrs)

21. Indexed comparison of Categories by Pipe Type

22. Indexed comparison of key LCA Categories by Pipe Type

23. Indexed comparison of LCA Emissions Categories by Pipe Type

24. Additional LCA evaluations:
Conclusions
Corrugated HDPE pipe (virgin or recycled) have lowest impact to the environment compared to other drainage pipe materials
Corrugated HDPE made with recycled content has additional environmental benefit over virgin HDPE pipe
Additional LCA evaluations:
Franklin Associates evaluating other End of Life Scenarios – recycle & landfill
Final Franklin Associates report to be peer reviewed by 3 independent experts

25. Dan Currence dcurrence@plasticpipe.org (816) 916-3470
Questions
Dan Currence (816)