Mobile
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
News / Biz From coal ash to concrete
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Don't forget: Renew, reuse, reduce, rethink, recycle. We've only got one livable planet -- so far; be kind to her.
Unfortunately the coal ash at Charlotte's two unlined, high-hazard coal ash ponds -- located on Mountain Island Lake just upstream from where Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities sucks our drinking water out of the lake -- isn't recyclable. But, the good news is some of the coal ash from newer, more efficient coal-fired plants is re-purpose-able.
Since last December, when a Tennessee Valley Authority dike broke spilling an estimated billion gallons of coal sludge over 300 acres, the nation became aware of coal ash ponds in their own communities, including two in Charlotte’s backyard.However, for academics and industry professionals, finding new uses for the toxic material is nothing new.
In fact coal ash is an ingredient used at some concrete production facilities, and has been for years. Brett Tempest is writing his thesis about ways to reuse coal ash as a Ph.D candidate at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
“I like the idea that you can make good new things from waste,” he said.
But variances in coal and the varied ways coal waste is processed at the 600-plus coal-fired power plants in the United States makes it difficult for the concrete industry to establish specific standards, which means it’s not being used as much as it could be.
“It’s not a very uniform waste,” said Tempest, “but it’s uniform compared to a scoop from a landfill.”
Read the rest of this Mountain Island Weekly article here.
While coal ash in concrete is relatively safe, not all products that include coal ash may be:
Related Stories
-
Found the damndest thing in Delta: ECG Utah Solar 1
An interview with Josh Case, the CEO of a big, inspiring solar tech start-up
Speaking of...
Latest in The CLog
More by Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman
-
Cancer's better with a side of 'shrooms
Aug 7, 2020 -
The Last Mountain will move viewers
Aug 4, 2011 -
Government's mixed message for women
Aug 2, 2011 - More »
-
The press should stop publishing the names of mass murderers 1
They want fame, so lets cut off their fuel source.
-
Lunch Break (9/1/16): Organizers unveil "People, Not Polluters" platform in Charlotte as McCrory officials testify in Raleigh
The morning already passed us by. What the hell happened?
-
Question the Queen City: The story of Mabel Rea 4
The Charlotte native went Hollywood, returned home and met a tragic demise.
