Recycled Glass: a resource for construction and utilities as aggregate

Glass placed in recycling bins in Thurston County and neighboring counties is not actually recycled into new bottles or jars but is ground into a fine sand/gravel called aggregate or cullet. It is not sharp and is a perfect substitute for pea gravel or sand in many types of construction projects.

Common uses include:
* base for roadways
* fill underneath slabs
* bedding for pipes
* drainage

Benefits of using glass aggregate:
*Save Money: costs about 50% less than virgin product
* Improve Workability: easier and cleaner to use in adverse weather
* Meet your Specs: satisfy DOT requirements and get LEED certification points
* Close the Loop: help grow the market for recycled products in a green economy

Glass aggregate has been used in many local large and small building projects. The Washington Department of Transportation has been using glass aggregate for several years now. This makes sense because it provides the same function as sand and gravel and often has advantages over these materials in our rainy climate. Glass aggregate is available locally and is often significantly less expensive than similar materials.

If it's so great, why isn't everyone using it? Often times permitters, contractors, and engineers are not aware of the benefits or hesitate to use something they are not familiar with.

The Glass Aggregate Summit will have speakers from all aspects of the construction industry that are experts on the specifications and are successfully using the product.

Registration is required. Cost per person is $12 for lunch.

To Register for the Summit go to http://www.ecobuilding.org/events/glass-summit

Video produced by Brian Stafki, Education and Outreach Specialist, Thurston County Solid Waste, a division of Thurston Public Works

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ballast
• embankment
• burrow
• recycle
• Recycling
• Glass
• Construction
• garden
• green
• utilities
• aggregate
• cullet
• building
• solid
• waste
• Thurston
• County
• Olympia
• Tumwater
• City