Representatives from the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center recently briefed members of the Pennsylvania Association of Sewage Enforcement Officers about efforts to reduce barriers to using manufactured recycled glass sand in onlot sewage treatment systems.

In 2003, DEP approved the use of manufactured recycled glass sand in the construction of onlot sewage systems. Producers of manufactured recycled glass sand must have the product tested by an AASHTO/ASTM certified commercial soil testing laboratory to assure that it conforms to the specified onlot sewage aggregate requirements.

Approximately 25,000 onlot sewage systems are installed annually in Pennsylvania. Assuming half of these systems are elevated mound construction utilizing 80 – 150 tons of material each, the result is statewide annual green builders demand between 1 million and 2 million tons.

To expand this green builders practice to the construction and recycling industries, the Recycling Markets Center will continue diversified and sustained statewide promotional efforts in the practice of constructing manufactured recycled glass sand mounds.

Over the last 5 months, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center deployed 9 markets development consultations throughout the Commonwealth, outreaching to over 140 contractors, designers, and SEOs combined.

The Recycling Markets Center can provide a free 18 minute DVD presentation of the installation process in addition to a list of Pennsylvania manufactured recycled glass sand producers.

Headquartered at Penn State Harrisburg with satellite offices near Pittsburgh, the RMC can be contacted at 717-948-6660 or visit the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center website. The center is supported in part by grant funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

3/14/2008