Coal ash is the generic term referring to several very distinct materials produced when we combust coal to produce electricity. Coal ash offers our society extraordinary environmental and economic benefits without harm to public health and safety when properly managed.

Our industry refers to these materials as “coal combustion products” or “CCPs” to emphasize that they have significant commercial value. A multibillion-dollar industry has arisen over the past 50-plus years around the use of these materials, which include fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and various forms of flue gas emission control/ desulfurization materials. Each of these varies by coal source and composition, combustion technologies, emissions controls technologies, and other factors.