The use of recycled glass within the construction industry has been the subject of extensive research in France. The government's agency for environment and energy management has been funding the research into the properties of waste glass, which has been carried out by the soil stabilisation specialist Esportec. In 1998, Esportec began looking into the use of glass as a binder, resulting in the development of EcoStabil. The product is a glass cement that uses pounded waste glass (which is too contaminated by manufacturing processes to be dumped in landfill) mixed with chemicals to produce a binding material. When mixed with pounded natural sand and water, the product makes a stabilising agent. This is now being tested for use on pathways, car parks and cycle tracks. The mix can also be used as a stabiliser for decorative concrete. (whole item)
