4.7 Fly ash and coarse ash waste

4.7(1)
Eskom produced 34,160,000 tons of fly ash in 2007, of which 6% was reused. Since Eskom is planning to expand its coal-powered generating capacity, quantities of fly ash waste will increase. In the same year Sasol produced an approximate 10,000,000 tons of coarse ash per year as a result of coal gasification processes.

4.7(2)
The national strategy seeks to achieve waste reduction through the treatment, reuse and beneficiation of fly ash and coarse ash. To facilitate this, the WCMS will provide for acceptable uses of waste. Industry will determine appropriate and environmentally sound uses of various grades of ash which will then be assessed by Government and stakeholder through the “acceptable use” process and depending on suitability these uses will be identified in terms of section 19 (3) of the Waste Act i.e. activities not requiring licensing. A wide range of potential uses for fly ash have already been identified, including treatment of acid mine drainage and stabilisation of sludge from a variety of industrial processes. Commercial exploitation of fly ash in brick-making and cement and concrete has already begun. The public benefit and economic potential for reuse of this waste stream is significant. Industry will be able to explore further reuse applications and assess these uses against the acceptable use criteria provided for within the framework of the WCMS.