DOT, ministry and municipal reviewers
Enviro-Rock for public agencies
Enviro-Rock is an accepted lightweight fill product on the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit Recognized Products List.[1] Alberta lists it as a Potential Product, with final acceptance to be based on field performance.[2][3]
Enviro-Rock at a glance
- Loose dry bulk density
- 200 kg/m³
- Angle of friction
- 39° at 65 kPa
- Thermal resistance
- R-2.4 per inch, dry
- Up to, per B-train load
- 140 m³
From the Enviro-Rock specification table and delivery trailer sheet. Sources on the product page.
Your priorities
What you need from a supplier
01
A clear listing status
Where the product stands on your agency's list, and what that listing does and does not cover.
02
Test evidence and quality control
Agency specifications set limits that are checked on delivery. New York State DOT, for example, limits foam glass aggregate fill to a loose moist density of about 290 kg/m³ (18 lb/ft³), checked on every truckload.[4]
03
Controls written into the contract
Placement rules a contractor can follow and an inspector can check. Maine DOT's provision covers geotextile encapsulation, loose lifts of no more than 450 mm (18 in), limits on compaction to prevent particle crushing, and no submergence until the fill is ballasted.[5]
What you get
What Enviro-Rock provides
01
BC Recognized Products List
Listed as accepted under Lightweight Fill Material as product 1414. Accepted products may be used on Ministry projects as long as the product meets the requirements of the Standard Specifications and/or the Work.[1]
02
Alberta product evaluation
Listed by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors as a Potential Product (Lightweight Fill, Proprietary), with use designed for site conditions by an APEGA-registered engineer.[2][3]
03
Test reports on request
Bulk density, water absorption, gradation, CBR, thermal resistivity, freeze-thaw and confined compressibility reports, to the test methods named on each.[6]
04
Chemical data and a safety data sheet
Enviro-Rock reports its TCLP (SW-846) result as non-leaching, with the lab report, composition and further chemical data on request.[7] A safety data sheet is available on request.[8]
Applications
Where you are likely to use it
Application
Soft ground embankments
Enviro-Rock foam glass aggregate fill for road embankments, grade raises and widenings over soft or compressible ground, accepted on BC's Recognized Products List.
Application
Retaining wall backfill
Free-draining foam glass aggregate backfill for MSE, cast-in-place and segmental retaining walls, where a lighter fill means less lateral earth pressure on the wall.
Application
Bridge approach fill
Lightweight, free-draining fill for bridge approach embankments and the backfill behind abutments and wing walls, to cut approach settlement and earth pressure on the structure.
Application
Trench backfill
Lightweight, insulating trench backfill for utility lines, pipeline corridors and manholes, to cut the load on buried pipes and help protect lines from frost.
Application
Sports field fill
Lightweight, free-draining fill that brings sports fields, parks and playgrounds to grade over soft ground, used at Vancouver's Killarney Park and Burnaby's Jim Lorimer Park.
Application
Frost protection
An insulating, non-frost-susceptible foam glass aggregate layer that reduces frost penetration into susceptible subgrades under roads, pavements and foundations in cold regions.
Questions
Common questions
What does the BC listing mean?
The Ministry defines accepted products as acceptable for use on Ministry projects as long as they meet the requirements of the Standard Specifications and/or the Work.[1] The Ministry also states that a listing is not an endorsement or a guarantee of performance against specific contract requirements.[1]
What is its status in Alberta?
It is listed as a Potential Product. Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has no experience with it yet, and final acceptance will be based on field performance.[2][3]
Is it approved in Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska or the Yukon?
No. Enviro-Rock has no approval in those jurisdictions, so acceptance rests with the project owner and the engineer of record. New York and Indiana have published foam glass aggregate specifications and Maine DOT has used a project special provision, which reviewers elsewhere can use as reference points.[4][13][5]
How do specifications handle buoyancy?
Foam glass aggregate is buoyant, so specifications place it above the water table or hold it down with cover material.[14] Maine DOT's provision does not allow the fill to be submerged until it is ballasted.[5]
Does foam glass aggregate leach?
Enviro-Rock reports its TCLP (SW-846) result as non-leaching; ask for the lab report with concentrations.[7] Based on leachate studies, FHWA states that foam glass aggregate is not considered hazardous for highway geotechnical and pavement applications.[15]
Is there an ASTM or AASHTO standard for foam glass aggregate?
No. FHWA lists ASTM and AASHTO standards for shear box and triaxial testing of foam glass aggregate as a remaining need.[15] Agencies that specify it, such as Maine DOT, set limits in their own provisions using established test methods such as ASTM C29 for bulk density.[5]
Sources
- [1] Recognized Products List, Lightweight Fill Material (October 1, 2026), BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit
- [2] Product evaluation: Enviro-Rock (8165-5-7), Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
- [3] Products List: Lightweight Fill (March 18, 2026), Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
- [4] Item 203.03200017, Lightweight Foamed Glass Aggregate Fill, New York State DOT, 2023
- [5] Special Provision Section 203, Ultra-Lightweight Foamed Glass Aggregate, Maine DOT, 2025
- [6] Enviro-Rock technical data, Enviro-Corp Recycling
- [7] Enviro-Rock benefits: chemical resistance, Enviro-Corp Recycling
- [8] Safety data sheet, foam glass aggregate (November 2024), United Concrete & Gravel Ltd.
- [9] Enviro-Rock installation guide, Enviro-Corp Recycling
- [10] Enviro-Rock compaction equipment sheet, Enviro-Corp Recycling
- [11] Case study: Jim Lorimer Park playground, Burnaby, Enviro-Corp Recycling
- [12] Case study: Killarney Park soccer field, Vancouver, Enviro-Corp Recycling
- [13] 904-M-076 Lightweight Aggregate, Indiana DOT, 2025
- [14] Applications for Foamed Glass Lightweight Aggregate, final report, Illinois Tollway Research Program, Washington State University et al., 2025
- [15] Alternative Backfills for Highway Applications: State of the Practice (FHWA-HRT-23-110), Federal Highway Administration, 2024
Get a price and a delivery window.
Tell us the application, the volume and where it is going. A real person replies with pricing and a delivery window.