State Sen. Gene Yaw (R- Bradford) recently visited Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) in Muncy to learn how large diameter thermoplastic pipe is manufactured.
Yaw also discussed with ADS executives the use of recycled plastics, ADS education initiatives and open competition for products used in federal and state projects.
Hilliard, Ohio, based ADS has 60 manufacturing plants globally producing polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe in diameters up to 60 inches for sanitary sewer systems and storm water drainage.
ADS uses approximately 400 million pounds of recycled plastics annually.
“The trend by Departments of Transportation throughout the nation is to improve drainage systems while controlling costs by using thermoplastic – HDPE and PP – pipe,” Tori Durliat, ADS director of marketing, said. “The Federal Highway Administration national construction and maintenance regulation allows the use of alternative types of pipe on federal-aid highway projects. Many local jurisdictions and state departments of transportation, however, have outdated specifications that do not allow plastic pipe. This, unfortunately, creates a monopoly, increasing the cost of a project. Updating specifications to allow approved product alternatives can save taxpayers money.”
Over the next 10 years, open competition could save $22.3 billion for storm water in pipe material costs, Yaw said.