Recycled Concrete

3 Pages 853 Words

INTRODUCTION



Nothing lasts forever. The same is true for concrete. Trouble with this rubble is that it can't be compacted, and it doesn't decompose. Putting waste to work is not a new concept. Reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering waste has become and everyday occurrence. Nearly a half a billion tons of waste every year, approximately eight pounds (3.6 kilograms of waste for every person every day)[i].



The use of recycled materials helps save material as well as energy. This trend has recently been increasing. Portland cement concrete can be reclaimed during demolition and crushed into a coarse granular material that can be used as a substitute for virgin crushed rock and used as structural fill in many applications. Aggregate processors are beginning to accept reclaimed concrete for a "tipping fee" significantly lower than the cost of landfilling the waste material.[ii]



The main parts of the report will discuss:

(1) Material and energy savings

(2) Background on how recycled concrete is checked

(3) Test descriptions of these methods when used for structural fill





MATERIAL AND ENERGY SAVINGS




The usage of recycled concrete as a structural fill material instead of natural aggregate is steadily increasing. In many regions, recycled aggregate may cost 20% to 30% less that of natural aggregate.[iii] Landfill costs for debris continue to rise and the landfills become more heavily regulated, it makes economic sense to use alternative means of disposal of concrete from construction and demolition operations. More disposal sites are opening up and contractors are incorporating recycling into their operations to decrease disposal costs.

Recycled concrete aggregate is increasingly available and is often an economical alternative to new aggregate. Project managers can ensure that their contractors are aware of opportunities to recycle this material and can require the use ...