Possible Use of Ash Residues for the Construction of Artificial Reefs at Sea

Utilization of ash residues, including coal ash, oil ash, and municipal solid waste combustion ash, for the construction of artificial reefs at sea has been investigated by many researchers throughout the world for nearly 20 years. Both laboratory and field studies have shown that an artificial reef made of stabillized ash-concrete (SAC) has had no adverse effect on the marine environment. Indeed, published studies have shown that fish counts increase around SAC reefs owing to an abundance of colonizing organisms and to protection provided by cavities within the reef structures. However, public and regulatory resistance to the use of SAC for artificial reef construction at sea is still very strong in certain countries due to concern for possible negative environmental impacts, primarily in the area of bioaccumulation of elements or compounds originating from the ash component of SAC.

In this paper, technological feasibility of using ash residues for artificial reef construction is presented, based on the available 20 years of scientific data, including engineering workability, physical integrity, chemical leaching potential and biological effects. More important, we also identify conceptual barriers for the acceptance of using SAC for the construction of ocean reefs and suggest approaches to overcome these barriers.