Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities

Abstract

"In the U.S., most plastics waste is disposed in landfills, but a significant amount also ends up as litter on land, rivers, and oceans. Today, less than 10 percent of plastics waste is recycled in the U.S. annually. The use of recycled plastics in infrastructure applications has potential to help expand the market and demand for plastics recycling. These are among the findings in [this report]. The report emphasizes that pursuing the recycling of plastics in infrastructure depends on goals, policy, and economics. To that end, life cycle economic and environmental assessments should be conducted to inform policies on plastics waste reuse"-- Introduction -- Plastics properties, production, and markets -- Management and sourcing of plastics waste -- Life-cycle considerations -- Impact of policy and regulation on the use of plastics waste in infrastructure in the United States -- Applications of recycled plastics in pavements -- Applications of recycled plastics in other infrastructure -- Plastics redesign for recycling -- Major findings and recommendations.