With its strength and durability, concrete is one of the most commonly used building materials worldwide. But what happens to concrete after it is no longer needed and turns into scrap? Innovative methods are transforming concrete debris into useful resources rather than seeing it as just waste. By reviving outdated materials, this process encourages sustainability and lessens its negative effects on the environment.
In order to recycle concrete scrap, it must be broken down from old structures and used as building material again. This reduces the need for landfill space while also conserving natural resources. We can greatly reduce the carbon footprint linked to the production of new concrete by reusing it, which will support greener building methods.
Concrete recycling is a simple but extremely efficient process. Crushed concrete that has been demolished is sometimes called aggregate because it is small, reusable pieces. Applications for this recycled aggregate range from new concrete mixes to road construction. Because of its adaptability, recycled concrete is a desirable choice for developers and builders who want to construct more environmentally friendly projects.
Recycled concrete has financial advantages as well. It lowers the expenses related to buying new materials and lowers disposal costs for construction companies. Because of its low cost and positive environmental effects, recycled concrete is a wise choice for building in the future.
A useful and significant solution that comes to mind as we look for ways to build more sustainably is the second life of concrete scrap. We can transform the construction industry into one that is more efficient and sustainable by utilizing recycled concrete, transforming it from a waste material into a valuable asset. This strategy not only protects the environment but also lays a solid basis for upcoming building innovations.
| Concrete Scrap Benefits | Uses of Recycled Concrete |
| Reduces landfill waste | Road base |
| Saves natural resources | Fill material |
| Lowers construction costs | New concrete mix |
| Minimizes carbon footprint | Landscaping |
What is recycled concrete
Generally speaking, when building significant structures, cutting costs on materials is not the best course of action. But also regarding the caliber of the work.
However, the qualities of broken brick and concrete, chips from previously removed asphalt pavement from the road, and other secondary materials allow them to be used in some construction areas without sacrificing the final product. The production of crushed stone for concrete started in the latter part of the 20th century.
This allowed for the simultaneous solution of multiple issues:
- Save natural fillers for the manufacture of concrete structures that do not have high strength requirements;
- Comply with stricter environmental protection requirements;
- Solve the problem of construction waste generated during the demolition of old buildings and structures.
Production
Old reinforced concrete buildings that have been disassembled serve as the raw material for secondary crushed stone. in addition to returned goods from precast concrete manufacturers. Furthermore, solid waste from cleaning concrete pumps and related machinery is frequently utilized.
Kindly take note. Concrete crushed stone is not made from materials like cinder blocks, expanded clay blocks, cellular concrete, or foam concrete because the waste from these products is too weak and crumbles under pressure.
Large-scale reinforced concrete fragments left over from the collapse of different buildings are not fit for reuse. Furthermore, they are frequently combined with other materials like drywall, brick, plaster, and wood. and tainted with clay and dirt as well.
Oversized refers to this type of waste concrete. It is worth very little because it is not very useful without further processing.
Recycling is done to turn it into secondary crushed stone, and this involves the following manipulations:
The resultant crushed stone made of concrete is regarded as oversized and may contain different grains. You have the option to select both larger and smaller crumbs, measuring between 5 and 10 mm, depending on the intended use. 10-20, 20-40, 40-80 mm, and so forth are some examples.
Larger crushed stone will obviously cost a lot more than regular concrete debris, but it will still be much less expensive than granite crushed stone or other non-metallic materials by a large margin. Due to the high cost of concrete crushing equipment, only large construction companies do processing—which is merely one of their many operations.
Suggestions. If you demolished a concrete building that you owned, find out if there is a company that does this kind of work in your area. Giving the disassembled buildings away or having them crushed will be more profitable than taking them to a landfill and purchasing crushed stone for landscaping and new construction.
Using a sledgehammer and a concrete punch, you can also break up concrete with your hands. However, this will take a great deal of time and work, and the heterogeneous raw material that is produced is only useful for filling in more pits.
Technical characteristics
Even though the content is secondary, it must meet specific criteria for the following indicators:
- Fraction size;
- Flakiness (content of needle-shaped and lamellar grains);
- Strength of elements;
- Percentage of foreign impurities;
- Percentage of small dust particles;
- Frost resistance.
These specifications, which are governed by GOST 32495-2013, essentially restate the specifications for crushed granite. A directive mandates that the producer of crushed concrete provide a report for every recycled material batch that includes all of the aforementioned indicators.
Without delving into specifics and figures, we can say that crushed concrete possesses all the qualities of the grade of concrete used to build the structure. Furthermore, concrete gets stronger over time, so you shouldn’t be concerned about the material’s resistance to frost, moisture, or crushing-related deterioration.
Other advantages consist of:
- The rough surface of the stones, thanks to which they adhere better to the cement mortar;
- Possibility of dense compaction of concrete scrap;
- Good drainage properties of the material;
- Environmental safety;
- Low cost, which depends on the degree of contamination and the size of the grains. The smaller they are, the more expensive the material.
Application areas
Crushed concrete, for all its benefits, is not as strong, water resistant, abrasion resistant, or as durable as natural crushed stone in these and other areas. Because of this, it is not utilized in the building of vital structures, but it does have other uses. These are typically buildings whose quality and appearance aren’t subject to stricter specifications.
- Temporary and secondary roads with low traffic, bypasses;
- Road embankments;
- Construction sites, parking lots, industrial yard areas;
- Garden paths and sites;
- Backfilling of swamps and other natural reservoirs, ravines, pits, trenches and pits;
- Strengthening of marshy soils, banks and slopes;
- Creation of drainage systems in swampy areas;
- Creation of a filter layer in wells and artificial reservoirs;
- Manufacturing concrete solutions for pouring foundations, blind areas, floors and other concrete structures, including small architectural forms;
- Application in landscape design.
Because broken red brick also finds use in a similar area, secondary crushed stone frequently combines the two materials. However, brick absorbs more water and has a lower strength against static loads; therefore, you should choose between buying a "pure" or mixed composition depending on the situation. However, builders frequently utilize broken brick because it’s a great sound and heat insulator. It is used to insulate subterranean pipelines and fill internal wall cavities.
There are many advantages to recycling leftover concrete for the economy and the environment. We cut down on the quantity of waste that ends up in landfills and the need for new raw materials by giving used materials a second chance at life. In addition to helping reduce carbon emissions related to the production of new concrete, this process conserves natural resources.
Recycled concrete is versatile enough to be used in a variety of applications, such as landscaping and road construction. It can be used as an element in fresh concrete mixtures, as a base material for new roads, or even as a gravel substitute. Concrete recycling is a useful and practical solution in the construction industry because of its adaptability.
Furthermore, recycling leftover concrete can result in significant financial savings. Recycling helps businesses reduce the costs associated with transporting and disposing of demolition waste. The savings can then be transferred to customers, increasing the affordability and sustainability of building projects.
Sustainable building techniques will become more and more in demand as environmental issues become more widely recognized. Accepting the recycling of concrete is a step in the direction of a greener future. Through the integration of recycled materials into our projects, we can contribute to the development of a more responsible and sustainable construction sector.
Concrete scrap can be more than just trash; it can provide environmentally friendly and constructionally sound solutions. We can lower carbon emissions, preserve natural resources, and lessen the amount of waste that ends up in landfills by recycling used concrete. Crushing and reusing concrete to create new projects gives it a second life that not only promotes environmentally friendly practices but also gives builders access to affordable building materials. Adopting concrete recycling preserves the strength and longevity of concrete while contributing to the creation of a greener future.
