Abstract

According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s 2000 Annual Landfill Capacity Report “as of Jan. 1, 2001, 53 landfills reported having a combined remaining capacity of 743.4 million gate cubic yards, or 49.3 million gate cubic yards less than on Jan. 1, 2000, a decrease of 6.2 percent.” Also, at current waste generation rates “landfill life expectancy in Illinois [is] 15 years barring capacity adjustments.” As waste continues to accumulate and availability and capacity of landfill spaces diminish, agencies are increasing application and use of recycled materials in highway construction.

The Illinois Department of Transportation utilizes millions of tons of highway materials annually. The basic building materials in roadway and bridge construction are primarily aggregate, cement, and asphalt. The annual usage of recycled materials is over 1.5 million tons. The educated use of recycled materials can result in reduced cost potentials and may enhance performance; however, not all recycled materials are well suited for highway applications due to limited or compromised performance-based benefits and/or high cost. This report reviews current usage of various recycled materials, as well as discusses reclaimed materials not currently being utilized by the Department.

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