Holcim North America has recently revealed its introduction of ECOAsh beneficiated ash at its Lafarge operations in Western Canada, with future plans for expansion into the United States.
According to a Holcim statement, ECOAsh is a high-quality Type F fly ash, meeting specifications and reclaimed from landfills, serving as a valuable resource for enhancing cement and concrete construction applications.
The newly established processing facility in Alberta, a collaborative effort between Holcim North America and Geocycle North America, represents a pioneering initiative within Holcim's global operations.
This facility utilises advanced beneficiation technology and proprietary techniques to produce fly ash with performance equivalent to, and more consistent quality than, freshly produced commercially available Type F fly ash, as stated in the release.
“As we continue to build to support growing population demands, the integration of circular building materials such as ECOAsh plays a crucial role in driving our portfolio towards a more sustainable future. By embracing these strategies, we not only provide essential building materials but also establish the foundation for building greener and smarter cities while shaping the trajectory of our industry for generations to come,” Holcim North America regional head Toufic Tabbara said in a statement.
The release noted that fly ash, a by-product of operations in coal-fired power plants, is widely used as a supplementary cementitious material. As the transition away from coal-fired power plants continues, the harvesting of legacy landfilled ash emerges as a viable alternative.
“The transformation of landfill materials into high-value fly ash for sustainable building presents an exciting opportunity for our customers and us to build more with less and work towards a net-zero future. At Holcim, we are fully dedicated to meeting future market demands by harnessing and enhancing extensive fly ash reserves secured through well-established, long-term sourcing agreements with electric utilities,” Lafarge Western Canada president and CEO Brad Kohl explained.
The new ECOAsh processing facility will commence production and product supply to customers in Western Canada in the first quarter of 2024.