Over the past 10 years, State DOTs have made significant progress incorporating recycled materials and industrial byproducts in transportation applications. As a whole, recycled materials can add value to DOT projects, yet many of these materials still remain under-utilized 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 by providing the research and outreach activities needed to further the appropriate use of recycled materials. The Center was started in 1998 at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) through an agreement with FHWA based on language in TEA-21. Under the original agreement, the RMRC sponsored 39 research projects in 14 states, resulting in seven regular or provisional AASHTO standards, with three additional draft standards submitted to the AASHTO Subcommittee on Materials. This research also produced new guidance documents for characterizing the environmental performance of recycled materials, and for conducting life-cycle cost analysis for transportation projects using recycled materials. In addition to the standards and other guidance documents, the RMRC organized and hosted four Regional Recycled Materials Workshops that covered the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and Western regions of the United States. The workshops brought together State DOT Materials Engineers, State DOT Environmental Specialists, State EPA Beneficial Use Specialists, FHWA Division Office personnel and U.S. EPA personnel to learn about appropriate recycled materials use for each region of the country. Each workshop was the same in that attendees were given a "tool box" of information to allow them to develop their own recycling expertise within their State. The RMRC also hosted an international conference on the use of recycled materials in transportation projects to learn about technology and practices be used in other countries. The RMRC was renewed in 2007 by FHWA for an additional 4 years. The University of Wisconsin at Madison has joined the RMRC as a major partner to provide additional expertise as well as providing a more national perspective to the Center. As part of the new agreement, FHWA mandated that the RMRC seek funds through a pooled fund study to provide support for research and outreach activities.

The ultimate objective of the RMRC is to increase the wise use of recycled materials in roadway construction and maintenance. This objective will decrease the amount of materials going to landfills or stockpiles, and will reduce the cost and environmental impact of DOT projects. This goal will be achieved through the following activities: o Systematically testing, evaluating, and developing standards and guidelines and demonstrating environmentally acceptable and occupationally safe technologies and techniques for the increased use of recycled materials in highway construction and maintenance. o Making information available to State transportation departments, the Federal Highway Administration, the construction industry, local and municipal agencies, and other interested parties to assist in evaluating proposals to use recycled materials in transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance. o Encouraging the increased use of traditional and non-traditional recycled materials by using scientific principles to analyze thoroughly all potential long-term considerations that affect the physical and environmental performance of recycled and secondary materials. o Working cooperatively with Federal, State, and local officials to reduce institutional barriers that limit widespread use of recycled materials and to ensure that increased use is consistent with the sustained environmental and physical integrity of the infrastructure in which the materials are used. More detailed objectives will be determined in cooperation with the RMRC Board of Advisors and the State DOTs who contribute to the pooled fund.

The RMRC has two main programs: (1) Research and Development. (2) Outreach and Technology Transfer. Under the research program, work is focused on the four main areas of asphalt and Portland cement concrete, structural fills and unbound materials, environmental issues, and recycling markets. The outreach program is focused on communications (e.g., website, newsletter), standards development, and training. The research and outreach tasks were generally outlined in the agreement with FHWA, and they will be specifically formulated in cooperation with the Advisory Board and the States that contribute to the pooled fund. The final RMRC proposal can be viewed online at the RMRC website.

The total budget of the RMRC is $4,260,000 over the life of the 4 year agreement. FHWA has agreed to provide $2,000,000 for the RMRC, with the remaining $2,260,000 to be obtained through this pooled fund solicitation. The target commitment is 20 States providing $30,000 the first 3 years, and $23,000 in the 4th year.