David J. Tenenbaum

Abstract

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(photos, above) 1. Minefill at the Springdale Pit (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) . 2. EPA buildings made with CCW-enhanced materials (Stephen King) . 3. Fly ash bricks (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) . 4. CCW-enhanced concrete at the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge (Reuters/Robert Galbraith) .

As reports predict coal could continue to provide a significant source for energy generation in the United States for decades to come, electric utilities must manage the noncombustible remains from coal burning, which are piling up at the rate of about 131 million tons per year in the United States alone. About 43% of this coal combustion waste (CCW) is diverted to recycling uses each year, including several applications in construction and road building. Such uses offer environmental benefits including greenhouse gas reductions, energy savings, and sending less waste to landfills. Given that CCW is a source of potential toxicants including arsenic and mercury, some have questioned the advisability of adding this material to products that will be used in roads, bridges, even homes. However, testing to date indicates that CCW is relatively safe when incorporated into building materials.