Concrete Recycling Process | Different Ways to Use Recycled Concrete
Concrete Recycling Process | Different Ways to Use Recycled Concrete
Concrete Recycling Process
Concrete recycling is the process of turning crushed concrete into aggregate, a building material. It is a process that takes concrete rubble from demolished concrete constructions and turns it into usable products.
Concrete recycling is a cost-effective way to reuse what would otherwise be landfill waste and reduce your carbon footprint.
This can save you money on construction projects while reducing your environmental impact and ensuring that the materials in your building are sustainable and even eco-friendly!
It reduces the need for new concrete to be produced, which has many environmental benefits. The recycled product can be used in construction, as filler in asphalt or as a substitute for gravel when laying driveways.
The process typically begins with crushing concrete (usually from demolition sites) into small pieces, which are then heated to remove moisture – this reduces its weight by as much as half.
The dry mixture is then transported to an asphalt plant where it will become part of the mix for new roads or parking lots. Once turned into aggregate, it can also be used for other outdoor construction projects like sidewalks or patios.
Recycling is both less expensive and more environmentally friendly than shipping rubble to a landfill. Crushed debris can be used to make road gravel, revetments, retaining walls, landscaping gravel, or as a raw material for fresh concrete.
Large chunks can be utilized as bricks or slabs, or combined with new concrete to form urbanite, a material.
Advantages Of Concrete Recycling
Among the advantages of concrete recycling are:
· When compared to gravel mining, it conserves natural resources.
· One ton of cement recycled can save 1,360 gallons of water and 900 kg of CO2.
· Reduces pollution caused by transportation to landfills and dumping
· Lowers the cost of transporting commodities and garbage.
· Saves landfill space and creates jobs
How Do You Recycle Concrete?
What can you do with a crushed concrete? It is possible to reuse it. You will need to break it down into smaller pieces and then use that for the foundation of something new.
Crushed concrete can be recycled into base material for new construction projects or reprocessed to create aggregate (crushed stone) that can be used in the production of asphalt, ready-mix cement and other products.
Ready-mix cement plants have even been known to use recycled materials from old buildings rather than mining sand and gravel from natural sources due to the environmental impact it would have on surrounding ecosystems.
Different Ways to Use Recycled Concrete
1. Aggregates
Concrete can be recycled by crushing concrete into aggregate, a building material. It’s a cost-effective way to reuse what would otherwise be landfill waste and reduce your carbon footprint.
This can save you money on construction projects while reducing your environmental impact and ensuring that the materials in your building are sustainable and even eco-friendly!
Once turned into aggregate, it can also be used for other outdoor construction projects like sidewalks or patios.
2. Flooring
Old concrete can also be made into tiles for outdoor use. It’s a simple process of breaking it up into smaller pieces, molding it, and painting it. This is a fun project for the entire family to work on!
Installing recycled concrete tiles will also leave you with some awesome patio furniture that no one else will have!
3. Ornamentals
As you might have guessed, old concrete can be turned into various ornaments for your garden. For this project, you’ll need to put the concrete or excess pieces into a mold and then cast it into resin. Once dry, simply paint your piece of artwork and display it in your garden.
4. Grout
Some concrete can be recycled by grinding up the pieces and mixing them with ground-up recycled glass.
The mixture can then be used as tile grout, an adhesive made from cement and water. You can use some in your bathroom to help keep tiles in place.
5. Insulation
In addition to being an excellent material for building insulation, concrete can also be used as a glue to stick recycled paper together.
This process is called mixed papercrete, and it can be used for paper or cardboard packaging to make boxes that are eco-friendly and cost-effective.
6. Retaining wall
Old concrete can be recycled into wall forms. These forms are used to contain earth, which allows you to create a retaining wall. There are many different kinds of retaining walls you can make using this method, depending on the look that best fits your aesthetic.
7. Pavers
What we use to pave our driveways and sidewalks every day is often called hot mix asphalt (HMA). This material is made by mixing together several kinds of rock and sand with limestone, petroleum coke, or coal dust.
You can easily recycle concrete into a paver, which is simply concrete that has been shaped and cut. You can then use this to build functional and beautiful walkways, patios, or driveways!
8. Fences
Another great use for concrete is fencing. Old concrete can be used to create fences for your outdoor area. You can either make slabs out of it and put them together, or you can create a fence-like mold for it to be poured into. Either way, you’ll end up with a beautiful, versatile, and sturdy fence!
9. Gallery casing
If you don’t have the budget to install a concrete floor in your house, you can reclaim some of that old concrete and make a gallery-like effect in your home instead. This effect is done by creating a decorative wall that has simple stones stacked on top of each other. You can easily do this using recycled concrete, and it will be sure to stand out for visitors!
10. Patio furniture
Would you like an environmentally friendly patio? One option is to use repurposed concrete patio furniture, because concrete will last much longer than wood or metal. You can make your own chairs using concrete, which is not only good for the environment but also for your backside!
11. Raised Garden Beds
If you want to grow a garden or raise some vegetables, the best thing to do is make a raised garden bed. This method is very simple and will make your gardening experience much easier. You can easily repurpose old concrete, and it will be perfect for growing greens!
12. Raised vegetable bed
If you want to grow vegetables but don’t have time to go out and acquire soil, then consider a raised garden bed! You can put any type of soil in the bed that you want, so you don’t even have to use your own. You can also easily repurpose old concrete for this project.
