Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Recycled Plastic Asphalt Act”.
Recycled Plastic Asphalt Act
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Transportation to develop a research program to review and evaluate the use of recycled plastic modified asphalt mixtures.
Sec. 2 Research and evaluation of recycled plastic modified asphalt
In general— The Secretary of Transportation shall develop a research program to review and evaluate the use of recycled plastic modified (referred to in this section as “RPM”) asphalt mixtures and mixtures using additives derived from recycled plastics.
Research program— In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
seek input and guidance from, and work in collaboration with, the asphalt pavement and plastic industries, state highway and transportation officials, state departments of transportation, and representatives from academia with expertise in recycling plastic modification;
evaluate the effects of RPM asphalt mixtures on long-term pavement performance, emissions, binder aging, plant and construction operations, and re-recyclability;
use experimental sections at test tracks and accelerated loading facilities to quickly gain an understanding of long-term performance for RPM asphalt mixtures;
enter into cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations for research and technology deployment; and
conduct demonstrations and open houses on the technologies incorporating RPM asphalt mixtures.
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report regarding the status of the research conducted under this section to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
Funding— From amounts authorized to carry out the highway research and development program under section 503 of title 23, United States Code, the Secretary shall use such funds as may be necessary to carry out this section.