Recycled Material Web Map: Connecting Consumers and Producers

Abstract

An online geographic information system web application that connects producers and consumers of recyclable material was developed to assist engineers and contractors in the beneficial reuse of recycled materials in transportation projects. The Recycled Material Web Map comprises four core layers: producers, stockpiles, specifications, and case studies. Producers of recycled material can locate their facility and enter contact information. The stockpile layer, connected to the producer layer, allows facility managers to add or update information about their recycled material stockpiles that includes material type, application, availability, and cost. Multiple stockpiles can be associated with each producer. The specification layer includes both Department of Transportation specifications and environmental regulations pertaining to the beneficial reuse of nonhazardous recycled material on the basis of specific location, material type, and application. The case study layer locates projects that successfully used recycled materials and has information about the material type, application, volume data, and any additional documentation. As potential consumers of recycled material, engineers and contractors can pinpoint the location of a construction project, search for sources and quantities of recycled material that meets project specifications, and contact material producers. The web map uses search capabilities to locate nearby stockpiles to minimize transportation costs that typically dictate the use of large volumes of materials. The Recycled Material Web Map provides key information that engineers and contractors need to successfully use recycled materials, thereby preserving limited natural resources and benefiting the project and society as a whole.