The International Society for the Environmental and Technical Implications of Construction with Alternative Materials, is an international non-profit organization founded in 1992 to promote and coordinate the exchange of information regarding the environmental and technical aspects of construction with industrial by-products.
Industrial by-products include residues from industrial processes such as:
- Metallurgical slag
- Foundry sand
- Blasting grit
- Fly ash and bottom ash from power plants or municipal and hazardous waste incinerators
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- Flue gas desulphurisation sludge
- Mine tailings
- Demolition waste
- Soils contaminated by industrial activities
- Stabilized or treated residues and soils
ISCOWA members, from 19 different countries>, are involved with the utilization of these alternative materials in construction applications such as fill, roadbase, cement, concrete, ceramic products and roofing materials.
The WASCON conference is the main event organized by ISCOWA. This international conference on the issue of integration of secondary raw materials in the field of civil engineering and construction has been organized every three years since 1991.
In the future, ISCOWA will focus on the following points:
- Continue to enhance the ISCOWA network with more scientists and engineers from industry. So, we invite all interested scientists and engineers to contact us.
- Increase membership in emerging and developing countries. To date, only few people from emerging or developing countries are ISCOWA members. Nevertheless, we believe that also there sustainable waste management and the use of recycled materials in construction is of high interest, so that having access to know-how and to a network on these matters may prove highly valuable.
- To continue to develop closer connection with industry and its practice and experience.