Crusher dust is a common by-product of mining and quarrying. Rather than being discarded as a waste material however, recycled crusher dust has many practical applications around the home and in construction.
Using crusher dust in lieu of other materials can have resounding environmental and economical benefits. With fine particles like soft sand, crusher dust can be used as a cost-effective filling and packing material around water tanks; blended with natural sands to improve concrete shrinkage and water demand; and as a material to back-fill trenches with. It can also be used as a concrete aggregate used to create distinctive textures and as a substitute for concrete when creating pathways and driveways.
Crusher dusts also have applications in horticulture as a natural fertiliser. Crusher dusts contain minerals that are insoluble to water, which makes it an ideal material to stop mineral leaching in soils; to reduce water logging; and to raise the pH levels of the soil. Using crusher dusts in horticulture can also aerate the soil and facilitate root growth.
