BEACON FALLS, Conn. — Every day is a mash up at Urban Mining CT where tons of consumer glass is crushed to make what they call “Pozzotive”.
Pozzotive is a patented process that turns glass items and bottles into concrete for building purposes.
“Pozzotive is a partial cement replacement. It replaces – pound for pound – cement in concrete by up to 50%,” said Lou Grasso, the managing partner at Urban Mining CT.
At the plant in Beacon Falls, massive machines and conveyor belts crush and shuttle the glass and turn it into the compound to make the lower emission concrete.
“It’s very cool and it’s great to be at the forefront of a new innovative product that is highly impactful and beneficial,” said Jennifer Curcio, the plant manager.
Urban Mining CT has only been opened since 2021 but Grasso hopes more cities see its potential for a more sustainable way to create concrete.
“This is the first commercial scale plant in the country,” said Grasso, “and this plant could be replicated throughout the United States in every major metro area.”
Urban Mining’s Pozzotive has been used in numerous projects around the area including to help build the New Canaan Public Library, The Ox Ridge School in Darien, and the Western Headquarters for CT DEEP. The Urban Mining concrete product is also being used in used in the building of the JP Morgan Chase’s Global Headquarters in Manhattan.
Standing by a large pile of processed glass pieces, Grasso added, “The best part is watching how this technology can get passed down to future generations.”
Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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