Standards for Sustainable Geotechnical Construction: ASTM International Experience

Beneficial reuse applications in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering have increased in recent decades due to performance benefits and improved sustainability in comparison to use of conventional virgin construction materials. Historically in the United States, large-scale beneficial reuse started with projects supported by the federal government. Availability of standards assists in identifying appropriate materials, appropriate procedures, and appropriate end uses overall providing consistency and confidence in reuse applications. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International has a devoted subcommittee related to Geotechnics of Sustainable Construction that has supported development of several standards on recycling and reuse. Six different types of standards are supported by ASTM including terminology, classification, guide, specification, practice, and test method. Subcommittee D18.14 has developed and oversees a total of five active standards including a test method and four practices with additional standards in development. These standards provide the framework for effective and responsible construction practices and proper regulatory oversight for ensuring human and environmental health. Further development is needed for materials-specific and application-specific standards. Directions for strategic growth in the worldwide adoption of beneficial reuse for infrastructure construction applications include refining and expanding the extent of available standards to include life cycle and climate impacts analyses and improving international collaboration to develop best practices and standards.