Concrete, the world’s most used construction material, comprises cement, water, and aggregate. However, the manufacture of cement is responsible for 8 percent of man-made carbon-dioxide emissions—the most common form of greenhouse gas.

Each ton of fly ash used to replace portland cement in the production of concrete saves almost one ton of carbon dioxide from entering the earth’s atmosphere. Beyond the environmental benefits of incorporating fly ash in concrete (in amounts of up to 40% replacement), fly ash also imparts significant performance benefits to concrete—including increased strength, workability, durability, and freeze-thaw resistance, as well as lower permeability, shrinkage, and heat of hydration.

For these reasons, fly ash has been specified for use in concrete for decades. However, as more and more coal plants are retired, fresh supplies of fly ash are increasingly scarce—particularly in certain regions of the country, such as Texas. Fortunately, the U.S. has an estimated two billion tons of fly ash in landfills and impoundments throughout the country—enough for many more decades of use in concrete production.

In Texas, as well as many other U.S. states, the state Department of Transportation mandates the use of fly ash in its concrete infrastructure projects. The Texas Department of Transportation has already verified that Cinder Residuals’ two sources of supply meet all applicable standards for use in the state’s roadways and commercial projects.

Across the country, an increasing number of public agencies are implementing low-carbon procurement policies that prioritize the use of lowercarbon materials in the construction and maintenance of publicly funded buildings and infrastructure. As such, the demand for fly ash in concrete infrastructure is expected to grow strongly in the years ahead.