Geotechnics of industrial by-products

Large volumes of industrial by-products are generated each year by U.S. industries, and most are landfilled as solid waste at considerable expense. However, many by-products have desirable properties and leach contaminants at such low concentrations that their use in construction applications does not present an environmental hazard. As a result, environmental regulations are being modified to permit re-use of these materials in a variety of applications. Ideal applications for these materials exist in the transportation, construction, and environmental industries, where large volumes of earthen materials are used each year. This paper focuses on the principles and protocols to be followed in developing the geotechnics of industrial by-products and how to deal with their unusual characteristics. These issues are discussed with examples derived from the writers' experience.