Each year, quarries in Georgia produce millions of tons of leftover byproducts known as pond screenings, which often accumulate unused in large holding ponds. At Kennesaw State University, associate professor Jayhyun Kwon is leading research aimed at turning this material into a valuable resource for the construction industry.
Kwon’s project seeks to reduce waste before recycling becomes necessary. His team, based in the Soil and Materials Lab on KSU’s Marietta Campus, is investigating the use of quarry pond screenings as a substitute for fly ash—a material widely used as a mineral filler in asphalt and concrete. With fly ash supplies dwindling, finding a sustainable local alternative could benefit Georgia’s construction sector.
“Right now, about 2.2 million tons of pond screenings are generated annually in Georgia,” said Kwon, who is an associate professor in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET). “If we can find a way to integrate this material into asphalt and concrete without sacrificing performance, we not only reduce the amount of waste sitting in these ponds but also lower material costs for construction projects.”
Graduate and undergraduate students working with Kwon are testing different mixtures to measure how adding pond screenings affects properties like strength and durability. The hands-on work gives students experience relevant to careers in civil engineering while contributing to research with environmental and economic significance.
In addition to sustainability benefits, using quarry byproducts could allow aggregate producers to modify operations so that they collect and sell screenings rather than discard them. Construction companies might save on materials and qualify for environmental credits when bidding on government-funded projects that require green building practices.
“It’s a win-win,” said Kwon, who previously served as application technology manager at Tensar International Corp., a geosynthetics manufacturer. “You save cost, reduce waste, and meet environmental requirements.”
Kwon noted that there are still challenges ahead before pond screenings can be adopted industrially. The fine nature of the material presents difficulties, and its acceptance depends on regulatory approval from agencies such as the Georgia Department of Transportation.
“This is a feasibility study, and there’s limited guidance on how to use this material,” he said. “But if we can demonstrate that it works, I believe the industry will be quick to adopt it.”
Looking ahead to field trials, Kwon expressed optimism about broader impacts. He hopes the research will serve as an example for other states considering ways to reuse industrial byproducts.
“Once people see that this works, they will start finding new uses we have not even considered yet,” he said. “This is just the first step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for construction.”
SPCEET administrators have shown strong support for the project due to its potential impact.
“Research like Professor Kwon’s perfectly reflects the mission of the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology,” SPCEET Dean Lawrence Whitman said. “We lead the way in supporting innovative work that not only solves practical engineering challenges but also provides our students with industry-relevant training that prepares them to be leaders in sustainable infrastructure development.”
