SYRACUSE — The City of Syracuse Department of Public Works (DPW) is pilot testing a new approach to infrastructure by using recycled glass as a cement replacement in concrete, the city government announced on Sept. 4. This initiative, a collaborative effort with Riccelli-Northern and KLAW Industries, aims to create high-performance, low-carbon infrastructure. The test projects […]
SYRACUSE — The City of Syracuse Department of Public Works (DPW) is pilot testing a new approach to infrastructure by using recycled glass as a cement replacement in concrete, the city government announced on Sept. 4. This initiative, a collaborative effort with Riccelli-Northern and KLAW Industries, aims to create high-performance, low-carbon infrastructure. The test projects include sidewalk upgrades on North McBride Street, Hickory Street, and Union Avenue. “We’re always looking for the most effective and sustainable approaches to constructing and maintaining city infrastructure,” DPW Commissioner Jeremy Robinson said in a release. “Based on the results of this testing, we can determine if the solution can be expanded to more sidewalks and, possibly, other applications.” KLAW Industries, a Binghamton–based, tech-driven glass recycling company, says it uses a patented process to pulverize broken glass into a fine powder that can replace a portion of the cement in concrete mixtures. In the City of Syracuse’s recent projects, this recycled glass replaced 20 percent of the cement, reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing the concrete’s performance and durability. “These projects are proof of the City of Syracuse’s commitment to supporting New York–based companies and deploying cost-effective, sustainable materials. We’re excited to see the City become a leader in sustainable infrastructure deployment in partnership with Riccelli-Northern,” Jacob Kumpon, COO at KLAW Industries, said. The City of Syracuse projects mark the first major infrastructure deployment of this technology in Central New York, but it follows successful adoption of the technology by the City of Binghamton and the New York State Department of Transportation, per the release. The Syracuse partnership — spearheaded by Riccelli-Northern (a ready-mix concrete supplier in Central New York), Michael McConnell Concrete, and the City of Syracuse — has already delivered low-carbon, ADA-compliant sidewalks in Syracuse without incurring additional costs, the city contends.