In Building Construction

I am constructing a building and would like to use recycled industrial materials on my job site. What materials can I use and where?


This diagram illustrates a variety of common building applications for industrial materials. Note that the availability of specific industrial materials can vary regionally. Be sure to consult state and local environmental agencies to determine approved uses of industrial materials. Click on the number for more information.

Building Materials 1 1 3 4 5 6 7 7a 7b 7c 7d 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Source: U.S. EPA PDF

Green roofs are roofs covered with plants; they reduce storm runoff and provide insulation. Scrap tires can be used to make rubber tile for walkways. Bottom ash can be used as bedding material. Clean wood, recycled gypsum wallboard, and cardboard can be ground and used as soil amendments in both green roofs and landscaping applications.

Benches can be made with plastic lumber containing fly ash or with recycled C&D wood.

Manufactured stone, which is concrete mixed with aggregates, is commonly used as building facing material. Fly ash can be used in the manufacture of cultured stone.

Industrial materials can be used to make concrete sidewalks, and used tires can be recycled to create rubberized sidewalks. Asphalt concrete sidewalks can be made with recycled asphalt pavement and recycled asphalt shingles.

Ceiling tile can contain flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum (a material resulting from burning coal to produce electricity), fly ash, recycled gypsum wallboard, or air-cooled blast furnace slag.

Industrial materials can be used in various flooring applications.

Used tires, fly ash, or recycled carpet.

Salvaged lumber or recycled wood.

Fly ash, blast furnace slag.

Fly ash.

Backfill surrounds the building foundation, supporting it and providing drainage. Scrap tires provide superior drainage, insulation, and wall pressure relief. Blast furnace slag and recycled concrete also can be used for drainage.

Structural fill is an engineered fill that is constructed in layers and compacted to a desired density. Coal fly ash, bottom ash, slag, and spent foundry sand can all be used as structural fill. Concrete can be crushed and used onsite as structural fill.

Concrete, which is composed of cement, aggregate, and water, is used in a wide array of building applications. Industrial materials can be recycled in cement and concrete in many ways. Here are a few examples:
•  Fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag can be used as partial cement replacements. Using these materials can produce stronger, longer-lasting concrete.
•  Portland cement itself can be made with fly ash, FGD gypsum, foundry sand, recycled gypsum wallboard, blast furnace, and steel slag.
•  Concrete aggregates can include bottom ash, foundry sand, crushed concrete, and blast furnace slag.

Air-cooled blast furnace slag can be used to produce mineral or rock wool insulation (also known as slag wool insulation).

FGD gypsum and recycled gypsum wall board can be used to manufacture drywall.

Mortars, grouts, and stucco contain aggregate (sand), binder and water. Fly ash, foundry sand, silica fume, and slag cement can all be used as partial cement replacements.

Masonry blocks are made from cement and aggregate. Slag cement, fly ash, or silica fume can substitute partially for cement. Bottom ash, blast furnace slag, and recycled concrete aggregate can substitute for newly mined materials.

Spent foundry sand can be used in place of natural soil as base material for the building site. In cold weather climates, this strategy can extend the construction season because foundry sands do not freeze as readily as most soils. Recycled concrete is also commonly used as base material.

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