May 28, 2025
Engineering researchers have been recognized for their role in an innovative Kansas City infrastructure project.
At Mizzou Engineering, we’re committed to discovering better ways of doing things — solutions that create meaningful change in Missouri and around the world.
That spirit of innovation was recently recognized when a team including Mizzou Engineering researchers received the Technical Innovation Award from the Kansas City Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association.
The honor highlights the researchers’ work on the Trash to Road Pilot Program, an initiative aimed at diverting waste from landfills while potentially extending the lifespan of public infrastructure.
Mizzou Engineering researchers Bill Buttlar and Punyaslok Rath, postdoc Ahmed Hassanin, graduate research assistant Helmut Leodarta and research engineer James Meister, accepted the award May 20.
“We want to thank our Trash to Road partners, including the City of Kansas City and project contractor JM Fahey, as well as all those who have collaborated with us in the past,” Buttlar said. “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum — it requires collaboration.”
Buttlar also thanked consultants LiveGreen USA, which coordinated with all the stakeholders and parties involved, and Asphalt Plus and Regen RBR, which provided materials.
Together, the program partners repaved a Kansas City road using experimental materials composed of recycled waste, including rubber from tires and plastic. The project tested three different asphalt mixtures, each incorporating a 0.5% additive: recycled tire, recycled plastic, and a combination of both.
Inspired by successful sustainable infrastructure projects elsewhere in the state, this program reflects Mizzou Engineering’s work toward building longer-lasting roads and reinforcing supply chain resilience.
“This is another example of the groundbreaking research being conducted by Professor Buttlar and his students,” Praveen Edara, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said. “As we prepare the next generation of engineers to build a safer, more resilient world, we remain committed to solving real-world problems that matter.”
Interested in partnering with Mizzou Engineering? Learn more about our research.