Survey Finds Insulation Industry Use of Recycled Materials Exceeds 18 Billion Pounds

Alexandria, VA (February 13, 2002) – According to a recent insulation industry survey, the amount of pre- and post-consumer glass and blast furnace slag recycled over the past nine years has totaled over 18 billion pounds. The survey was conducted by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), which tracks the industry’s recycling efforts on an annual basis.

Since introducing its aggressive recycling program in 1992, the fiber glass insulation industry has recycled over 8.4 billion pounds of glass. The use of recycled glass in the manufacture of fiber glass insulation continues to be the largest secondary use of pre- and post-consumer glass, and many fiber glass insulation products contain up to 40 percent recycled materials. In the year 2000 alone, more than 1.2 billion pounds of glass was diverted from the waste stream, saving 32 million cubic feet in landfill space.

Slag wool is made from blast furnace slag, and therefore, does not deplete any natural resources. The industry estimates that over 90 percent of the slag used for insulation is new slag purchased directly from manufacturers. The remaining 10 percent is mined from waste disposal sites and landfills. Between 1992 and 2000, slag wool insulation manufacturers have recycled over 9.7 billion pounds of blast furnace slag. The 1.26 billion pounds of slag diverted from the waste stream in 2000 would cover a football field to the height of 377 feet.

"The benefits of using fiber glass and slag wool insulation to increase comfort and improve energy performance are well known," says Kenneth D. Mentzer, President and CEO of NAIMA. "But the fact that this industry is a leading recycler is often overlooked. The fiber glass and slag wool industry’s commitment to the use of recycled materials and its aggressive development of efficient production techniques that minimize waste water and other effluents demonstrates leadership in the environmental preservation arena."

Fiber glass and slag wool manufacturers’ commitment to the environment is also demonstrated by use of increasingly sophisticated technology to improve the energy efficiency of production. As a result, the energy used in the production of fiber glass and slag wool insulation is rapidly replenished by use of the final product.

NAIMA publishes figures from its annual recycling survey to assist the general public in making sound environmental decisions when choosing insulation products.