1999 Trash Cutter Awards Program Case Studies

Los Angeles County:  Best Innovation Program

• Program Description
• Program Summary
• Costs
• Contact

Program Description

In Los Angeles County, approximately 10 million waste tires are generated annually. The county has taken a comprehensive approach to this problem by creating programs to eliminate illegal dumping, reduce waste tire disposal in landfills, stimulate the waste tire recycling market, and encourage other governmental agencies to begin similar programs. Efforts include the County's multimillion dollar Countywide Rubberized Asphalt Concrete and Rubberized Emulsion Aggregate Slurry Program, the Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Technology Center, the Waste Tire Management Program, and Los Angeles County Waste Tire Amnesty Day and Demonstration Project.

Program Summary

Waste tires pose a serious threat to public health and safety, as well as to the environment. The result is not only urban blight but significant costs to residents. For example, waste tires serves as a reservoir for rainwater, creating a nesting area for vectors and a breeding ground for mosquitoes which can spread encephalitis and other illnesses. Waste tires can also catch fire and are extremely difficult to extinguish, releasing significant amounts of thick, black, toxic smoke.

In the absence of acceptable markets, landfills have been the traditional method for waste tire disposal. Because the County is continually looking for new and innovative methods to productively use waste tires, eliminate the illegal dumping of tires, conserve our natural resources, and preserve landfill capacity, the Department of Public Works has and continues to implement programs to address these waste tire issues. These programs include the multi-million dollar Countywide Rubberized Asphalt Concrete and Rubberized Emulsion Aggregate Slurry Program, the Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Technology Center, the Waste Tire Management Program, and Los Angeles County Waste Tire Amnesty Day and Demonstration Project.  When taken together, these programs reduce the number of waste tires disposed in landfills, stimulate the waste tire recycling market, preserve the environment, and encourage other governmental agencies to begin similar programs.

Rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) is produced when crumb rubber is blended with asphalt and aggregate material under specified conditions.  When appropriately used on road resurfacing projects, RAC has many advantages over conventional asphalt. For example, RAC is cost-effective, saving as much as $22,000 per lane mile over conventional asphalt projects, provides excellent long lasting color contrast for striping and marking, is highly skid-resistant, and uses more than 2,000 waste tires per lane mile, thereby conserving our natural resources and landfill capacity.

Rubberized emulsion aggregate slurry (REAS) is produced when crumb rubber is blended into asphalt emulsion at ambient temperature and used as a slurry to repair roadways. Although the cost of REAS is higher than for conventional slurry, the advantages include an approximate 50 percent increase in longevity, color contrast for striping and marking, and high skid resistance. In addition, REAS uses more than 78 waste tires per lane mile, thereby also contributing to the diversion of waste tires from traditional disposal.

To ensure the success of the program and stimulate the market for waste tires through the slurry seal projects, the county, in conjunction with Petrochem Marketing, Inc. developed specifications and testing criteria for the REAS material. As a result of the successful use of REAS, these specifications and testing criteria have been incorporated into the 1998 supplement of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, commonly referred to as the "Green Book." To date, more than 200 cities, counties, and agencies in the state have adopted the Green Book as their standard.

The current program also consists of a waste tire amnesty day event for residents to recycle their waste tires free of charge and the development of a demonstration project to promote the use of products made from recycled tires. Such demonstration projects include resurfacing of athletic or playground areas, the addition of crumb rubber mulch in community parks, or the resurfacing of a significant length of roadway with rubberized asphalt concrete. In conjunction with these events, this Program will also conduct a public education outreach campaign to promote the proper management of waste tires and the beneficial uses of recycled rubber products.

Costs

The county has used RAC on approximately 75 percent of its highway resurfacing projects, spending an average of $3.9 million each fiscal year funded through the Road Fund which is generated from gasoline taxes. Since 1993, the county has applied RAC to more than 584 lane miles of roads, diverting more than 1.2 million waste tires from landfill disposal. This has made the county the state's leader in utilizing RAC to pave streets and highways.

The county identifies and awards contracts for the use of REAS on many road projects, spending an average of $4.4 million each fiscal year which is funded through the road fund. Since 1993, the county has applied REAS to more than 1,330 lane miles of roads, diverting more than 104,000 waste tires from landfill disposal.

For Further Information, Contact:

Los Angeles County
900 South Fremont Ave.
Alhambra, CA 91803-1331
(626) 458-5167
www.888CleanLA.com

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