ISCOWA aims to promote and coordinate information exchange regarding construction with industrial by-products within the Circular Economy concept. It is an international, non-profit organisation, which was formed in 1991.

The main activity of ISCOWA is the arrangement of the WASCON conferences. WASCON is the reference international conference on the use of alternative materials in construction. Conference name WASCON stands for International Conference on the Environmental and Technical Implications on Construction with Alternative Materials.

Both environmental and technical aspects of construction are dealt with, and the by-products include residues from industrial processes, such as:

• construction and demolition waste
• metallurgical slag
• power plant, and municipal and hazardous waste incineration fly ash
• bottom ash
• foundry sand
• blasting grit
• mine tailing
• soil contaminated by industrial activities
• stabilized or treated waste and soil
• flue gas desulphurisation sludge
• etc.

ISCOWA members are involved with the utilization of these alternative materials in construction applications, such as fill, roadbase, cement, concrete, ceramic products, roofing materials, etc.

The objectives and organisation of ISCOWA are described formally in the Society Statutes of ISCOWA

All members of ISCOWA can be seen here.

ISCOWA is a non-profit association (vereniging) registered in The Netherlands at the Utrecht Chamber of Commerce nr. 40482110