Coal waste converted

Working under a $7.2 million

co-operative agreement, a Western Pennsylvania-based company recently converted 430 tons of coal combustion by-products (CCB), the solid residues generated by coal-burning electric utilities, into valuable building materials.

“By seeking alternative uses for these waste materials, we are showing how innovation is key to environmental stewardship,” Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said. “Materials that once were discarded are now going into construction projects, not landfills.”

Universal Aggregates, of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, sold the lightweight aggregate material to Versalite Sales, of Midlothian, Virginia, for use in manufacturing concrete block. In February, Universal Aggregates followed up its initial success by producing and selling an additional 305 tons to the same company.

Universal Aggregates completed the design and construction of its plant in the latter months of 2004 to manufacture the aggregate from CCBs generated on-site at Birchwood Power Partners’ Birchwood Power Facility in King George, Virginia.