In 2012, Bellingham used porcelain from 400 recycled toilets to build a roadway, diverting about 5 tons of waste from landfill. It earned the world's first official "Greenroads" certification

Cities across the US are adopting unconventional methods to make their infrastructure more sustainable. In Maine, for instance, engineers buried 20,000 old tires beneath a road to help protect it from frost damage. In 2012, authorities in Bellingham, Washington, took a different approach: they used porcelain from more than 400 recycled toilets in a roadway project.

The Meador Kansas Ellis Trail project became notable for its sustainable construction practices and was awarded the world's first official Greenroads certification. The certification, awarded by the Greenroads Foundation, recognized the project's innovative use of recycled materials, including porcelain from more than 400 recycled toilets. The toilets were crushed and incorporated into an aggregate material dubbed "poticrete."

The project also incorporated low-energy LED streetlights, used porous concrete to help manage stormwater, and included accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians. These measures helped the roadway earn a Greenroads Silver certification.


According to a 2012 report by SeattlePI, crushed porcelain made up about 20% of the project's final aggregate mix. The city estimated that the approach diverted approximately 5 tons of material from a landfill.

The project incorporated recycled materials in other ways, too. According to Newswise, about 80 tons of recycled concrete were used in sidewalks, curbs and gutters, while the recycled content of the roadway asphalt was increased to 30%.

The Greenroads Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Redmond, Washington, oversees the Greenroads Rating System. The system provides independent, third-party certification for sustainable roadway projects. The foundation was established after the rating system was unveiled in 2010, with development involving the University of Washington's Center for Commercialization.

The Greenroads system requires projects to satisfy 11 core requirements and offers up to 37 voluntary credits. Projects can qualify for one of four certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Evergreen. The Bellingham project achieved the Silver level.

Why toilet porcelain can become an environmental problem

Old toilet porcelain are not very environment friendly. Porcelain from old toilets does not readily break down in landfills, which means the discarded fixtures can stay in a landfill for decades or longer. At the same time, replacing an old toilet can sometimes make environmental sense because older models can use substantially more water per flush than newer, high-efficiency toilets.

Fortunately, there are some options rather than simply throwing away your old toilet porcelain. Homeowners may be able to give it a second life by repurposing old toilets as garden planters, composting systems, or decorative yard features.

Another option is to look for specialized recycling programs or facilities that accept porcelain fixtures. Recovered porcelain can be processed for use in construction, landscaping, aggregate, and—in unusual cases like Bellingham's—roadway projects.

FAQs

Why did Bellingham use recycled toilet porcelain in its roadway?

The project incorporated crushed porcelain from more than 400 recycled toilets into the roadway's aggregate mix. The approach helped divert about 5 tons of material from a landfill while reducing the need for some conventional aggregate.

What is “poticrete”?

“Poticrete” was the name given to the crushed porcelain material used in the Bellingham roadway project. The recycled porcelain was incorporated into the aggregate mix used for the roadway.

How much recycled porcelain was used in the Bellingham roadway?

Crushed porcelain made up about 20% of the project's final aggregate mix. The city estimated that the project diverted approximately 5 tons of material from a landfill.

What was the Greenroads certification?

Greenroads is a sustainability rating system for roadway projects. It evaluates projects based on factors such as recycled materials, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and provisions for pedestrians and cyclists.

What Greenroads certification did the Bellingham project receive?

The Meador Kansas Ellis Trail project received a Greenroads Silver certification, making it the first officially certified Greenroads project.

What other recycled materials were used in the project?

The project used approximately 80 tons of recycled concrete in sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The roadway asphalt also contained up to 30% recycled content.

Why is recycling old toilets important?

Discarded porcelain toilets do not readily break down in landfills and can take up considerable space. Recycling them can instead turn the material into a useful resource for construction and landscaping applications.

Can old toilets be reused instead of thrown away?

Yes. Depending on their condition, old toilets can potentially be repurposed as garden planters, composting systems, or decorative landscaping features. They can also be taken to specialized recycling facilities where available.