DEP, Partners Celebrate First North American Use Of PA-Manufactured Recycled Glass Construction Foam

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell joined officials from Pennsylvania-based company AeroAggregates, the City of Philadelphia, the PA Recycling Markets Center, and the Philadelphia Navy Yard Monday at an event to celebrate the first North American use of a construction material the company manufactures out of glass collected and recycled in state.

Reconstruction and elevation of part of Langley Avenue near the Navy Yard included use of an ultra-lightweight foamed glass AeroAggregates produced out of 100 percent postconsumer mixed glass.

“The glass used in this construction project is primarily collected and recycled in Philadelphia,” said Secretary McDonnell. “Its reuse right here in the city, through innovative manufacturing by a locally owned and operated company and cross-sector collaboration, is a model example of the winning partnerships between the Wolf administration, local governments, and the private sector.”

The RMC provided technical assistance to Aero to ensure the glass aggregate has no detectable level of crystalline silica. The RMC, which works to reduce or eliminate barriers to markets development for Pennsylvania's recycled materials, is funded in part via DEP from the $2/ton recycling fee paid by waste and landfill companies under Act 101.

The Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, is investing $3.7 million in state highway funds in the Langley Avenue project.

Aero’s use of mixed glass to form the construction material eliminates the biggest challenge in glass recycling--sorting by size, color, or type. The material’s light weight makes it ideal for reducing the load on the ground and on underground utilities.

Archie Filshill, CEO of AeroAggregates, noted the company’s product is also being used in a ramp construction project on I-95 at Cottman Avenue that broke ground Monday.

The DEP Recycling Program supports municipalities and businesses statewide with technical expertise and funding for recycling.
In 2014, Pennsylvania recycled more than 20 million tons of materials, equating to the removal of more than 15.9 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the air.

The PA Recycling Markets Center helps manufacturers and businesses reuse what would otherwise be waste as feedstock and other products.