Jump to main content.


Channelizers, Delineators, and Flexible Delineators

Channelizers: Channelizers are barrels or drums that direct traffic around areas of road repair or construction. Channelizers are designed and colored to be highly visible and can be constructed from recovered HDPE and rubber. The bases of the drums are weighted to provide stability and are often made from used tires.

Delineators: Delineators are temporary pavement markers that come in many shapes, sizes, and designs. They are manufactured primarily from recovered and postconsumer HDPE. Delineator bases are either steel stakes that can be driven into the ground or rubber to support the delineator on the road surface.

Flexible Delineators: These products come in the form of stakes and are driven into the ground. The product is flexible enough so that vehicles can strike them without causing damage to the vehicle or delineator. They are used at golf courses, airports, military bases, shopping centers, and recreation areas.

EPA's designation specifically covers channelizers, delineators, and flexible delineators containing recovered plastic, rubber, or steel.

Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges:

EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for purchasing channelizers, delineators, and flexible delineators as shown in the table below.

EPA's Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Channelizers, Delineators, and Flexible Delineators Containing Recovered Plastic, Rubber, or Steel ¹
Product Material Postconsumer Content (%)² Total Recovered Materials Content (%)
Channelizers Plastic 25-95 25-95
Rubber ² (base only) 100 100
Delineators Plastic 25-90 25-90
Rubber (base only) 100

100

Steel ³ (base only) 16
67
25-30
100
Flexible Delineators Plastic 25-85 25-85


¹EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing channelizers, delineators, or flexible delineators manufactured from another material. It simply requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing these items made from rubber, plastic, or steel, purchase them made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.

²Content levels are based on the dry weight of the raw materials, exclusive of any additives such as adhesives, binders, or coloring agents.

³The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30% total recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.

Top of Page

Product Specifications:

EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the following specifications when procuring channelizers, delineators, and flexible delineators:

Top of Page

Product Information:

Database of Manufacturers and Suppliers
This database identifies manufacturers and suppliers of traffic control devices containing recovered materials.

Top of Page

Additional Links:

2007 Buy-Recycled Series: Transportation Products (PDF) (7 pp, 89K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights the transportation products designated in the CPG, including traffic control devices, and includes case studies, recommended recovered-content levels, and a list of resources.

Technical Background Document
This background document includes EPA's product research on recovered-content traffic control devices as well as a more detailed overview of the history and regulatory requirements of the CPG process.

Top of Page


Local Navigation




Jump to main content.