Industrial materials include coal
combustion products, spent foundry
sand, construction and demolition
materials, iron and steel slags, scrap
tires, and pulp/paper mill residuals.
Many of these materials have
engineering, chemical, and physical
properties that make them valuable
resources, but are often disposed as
waste. Recycling industrial materials in
construction embodies green design
by conserving natural resources and
reducing energy use and greenhouse
gas emissions associated with virgin
materials. In addition, industrial
materials are often less expensive
than the virgin materials they replace.
As the demand for construction
materials continues to rise in the U.S.
and abroad, designing with recycled
industrial materials can make good
economic sense for project owners
and builders.
Want To
Promote Your Project!
If you are interested in recycling industrial materials
in your construction projects, or for more information
about the Construction Initiative, contact our
coordinators at rcc-challenge@epa.gov. Recognizing
that success fosters success, we also are interested
in documenting and promoting ongoing or recent
construction projects in which recycled industrial
materials are used.
Additional Resources
EPA Industrial Materials Recycling Web page:
www.epa.gov/industrialmaterials
FHWA's Recycling Web page:
www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/recycling/
Industrial Resources Council:
www.industrialresourcescouncil.org
&EPA
US. Department
of Transportation
Federal Highway
Administration
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
EPA530-F-08-013
www.epa.gov
June 2008
^Recycled/Recyclable—Printed on paper that
contains at least 50% post consumer fiber.
CONSTRUCTION
INITIATIVE-
Supporting green design
in construction through
industrial materials recycling
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
UOnStrUCTIOn initldtlVe \L»I) \s a collaborative, public-private sector effort to increase the recycling
and reuse of industrial materials in building and transportation construction projects across the nation. It is a part of EPA's
Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC), a national program that provides renewed urgency to the Agency's message of
reducing, reusing, and recycling valuable materials. The Initiative increases awareness of the potential value and unique
abilities of these materials to replace virgin materials in numerous construction applications. To reach this goal, EPA is working
with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Industrial Resources Council (comprised of representatives from
seven industry associations), to provide technical assistance to building owners, real estate developers, architects, general
contractors, and transportation officials.
Value
Green
To Construction Applications
Industrial materials can be recycled in nearly all
aspects of construction for buildings, roads, and other
structures. In some cases, they can even improve the
quality of the products in which they are used. For
example, using coal fly ash as a partial replacement
for portland cement enhances the strength, durability,
and workability of concrete. Common uses for coal fly
ash, ground granulated blastfurnace slag, and spent
foundry sand, include concrete, road embankments,
and flowable fill. Concrete and asphalt rubble can
be crushed and used as road base, aggregate in
pavements, structural fill, or drainage material. Roofing
shingles can be shredded and recycled in pavement,
replacing costly virgin asphalt.
Building And The
Construction Initiative
Green, or sustainable, building is the practice of
creating and using healthier and more resource-
efficient models of construction, operation,
maintenance, and renovation. Designing with
industrial materials is a key component of green
building and can earn points in green building
certification programs, such as the U.S. Green Building
Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED)® green building rating system.
Industrial Materials Recycling and LEED® Credits
Using construction and building products
containing recycled content
Reusing building materials and products
Diverting C&D materials from disposal
Using materials extracted, processed, and
manufactured locally
Total Possible Points
Points
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
8
EPA's Region 8 headquarters in Denver has earned a Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED*) Gold rating and contains recycled
industrial materials throughout the structure. For more information, visit:
www.epa.gov/region8/building/index.html.
Green construction also can involve a variety of other
sustainability areas, including air quality, recycling,
green purchasing, water stewardship, and energy
efficiency. The Cl works in concert with other EPA
programs that support these areas. The Destiny USA
project, is a prime example of the kind of multimedia
assistance EPA can offer through the RCC's Cl. For
more information on these programs that support
green building, visit EPA's green building website,
www.epa.gov/greenbuilding.
A Construction Initiative
Si
IPPOCC
ULUcoo
Destiny USA, a major commercial development in
Syracuse, N.Y., will be built with recycled industrial
materials. In 2006, EPA contacted the owner and
developers of Destiny to discuss the environmental
benefits of industrial materials recycling, as well
as other green building practices. Later that year,
Destiny USA and EPA entered into a voluntary
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through the
RCC. The MOU identifies Destiny's intent to pursue
several conservation and pollution prevention-
based programs and initiatives as part of the design,
construction, and operation of the complex. Since
the signing of the MOU, EPA has provided technical
assistance to Destiny that has resulted in several
environmental accomplishments:
Greenhouse gas emissions redui
EPA's assistance, Destiny determined the project
could utilize concrete containing 30% coal fly ash
with no compromise to performance. The project
has already exceeded the 3,000 tons of coal ash
pledged in the MOU. To date Destiny has utilized
more than 5,440 tons in sidewalks, parking lots, pile
caps, elevator shafts and grade beams, reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 5,400 tons,
which is equivalent to the annual emissions of about
900 passenger vehicles.
V$$>^
jced air emissi
Reduced air emissions from construction.
EPA assisted Destiny on transitioning from B20 biod-
iesel fuel to B100 biodiesel fuel for all construction
vehicles involved in the project, resulting in reduced
air emissions of particulate matter, carbon dioxide,
and carbon monoxide from construction.
.
Switched to green power. EPA's Green Power
Partnership assisted Destiny in switching from
19.5 million kilowatt-hours to 100% green power
for the operation of the existing Carousel Center
mall which is currently being expanded as part of
this project, preventing approximately 958 tons of
greenhouse gas emissions.
Destiny has joined EPA's WasteWise program and
also has committed to joining the Water Sense and
ENERGY STAR® programs. For more information on
the Destiny project, visitwww.destinyUSA.com.
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