On Friday, February 7th, the EPA announced a long-awaited decision to label coal ash as “non-hazardous.” The agency had opened the door to labeling the industrial byproduct as “hazardous” as recently as 2010, but eventually decided against that approach. This decision opens the door for increased use of the product in concrete, wallboard, and other building materials. It also means greater latitude for incorporating coal ash into advanced materials such as those developed by researchers at the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research. Considering the recent coal ash pond failure in North Carolina, this decision could lead to increased recycling and reduced impoundment of a significant waste stream for utility operators.