Concrete and asphalt recycling have evolved over the years. Traditionally, materials like asphalt and concrete were relegated to landfills upon removal. After being removed from parking lots or construction sites, they’d simply be transported to the nearest landfill for disposal. The approach, while simple, still resulted in freight costs, and, obviously, in landfill sites that were filled more quickly. Recycling changed that by enabling materials to be reused. However, in the early days of recycling, reuse was almost solely as fill product, due to issues of quality and gradation irregularity. Today, however, recycled concrete and asphalt can be crushed into forms that are usable in a breadth of industry applications.

Basics of Concrete and Asphalt Recycling

Concrete recycling entails breaking, removing, and crushing concrete into a material of a specified size and quality—not unlike the processes of crushing virgin materials. Demolished sidewalks, building columns, or foundations are broken up and compiled. The concrete can either be hauled to a recycling site for crushing or (often more cost-effectively) crushed on-site using a portable crushing rig.

Recycled asphalt product is now routinely accepted in asphalt paving mixtures as an aggregate substitute and as a portion of the binder in nearly all 50 states. Recently developed technology has even made it possible to recycle 90 to 100 percent recycled asphalt product in hot mix.  The process is, again, similar to traditional crushing processes: asphalt is broken, removed from parking lots and roads, and then hauled to locations where it’s chipped and stockpiled. In its crushed form, it’s often used as a chalk mix to replace what’s been removed.

Limitations of Concrete and Asphalt Recycling

While recycling has improved over the past few decades in terms of material functionality, there remain a few limitations. First, while the gradation control of recycled materials compares favorably to the gradation quality of virgin materials, abrasion does tend to be different. Additionally, there have been prior instances of contaminants found in recycled materials—although today, with adherence to proper processes and the use of improved technologies, this is very unlikely.

Benefits of Concrete and Asphalt Recycling

The substantial benefits of recycling offset its limitations, though. There are two main reasons to recycle concrete and asphalt. The first is efficiency—often, the cost to recycle material is less than the cost of disposing of material in a landfill. That, coupled with the cost savings on the use of recycled material, makes recycling an economically appealing option.

Secondly, recycling is more environmentally friendly. Not only does recycling reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfills, but it can also reduce transportation mileage, especially if crushing is done on-site via a portable crusher.

Consult EcoCrush with your concrete and asphalt recycling. We produce top-quality products from recycled crushed rock for use in the construction and building industries. No load is too small or too large for us to handle.

 

When concrete structures and elements are demolished for one reason or another, they generate a lot of debris that requires extensive cleanup. If this cleanup process proceeds haphazardly and without care, the debris will wind up in landfills. The pity of it is concrete is just as recyclable as many other construction materials are today. We provide information about how concrete recycling benefits your business and the environment in the following details.

Saves Your Company Money on Concrete Disposal

You will eliminate the tipping fees that the disposal centres or landfills charge for concrete disposal. These fees are based on volume or weight. This can save your company a great deal of money. Use the savings to improve other parts of your business.

Keeps Concrete Debris Out of Landfills

The landfills already are overrun with an excess of concrete and other debris. One day we will no longer have sufficient space for any more waste. Recycling concrete will reduce the amount of concrete waste.

Lowers the Need for Gravel Mining

One huge benefit of concrete recycling for the environment is that it reduces the need to mine the gravel that is necessary to make new concrete. Gravel mining severely impacts the land, water supply and air quality and as a result, it also can negatively influence the health of the residents and visitors of the surrounding area.

Reduces the Energy Used in the Manufacturing of New Concrete

Manufacturers save on their energy cost for producing concrete when they process recycled into new. This is due to the fact that they do not need to first process the gravel into the raw materials necessary to make concrete.

Your Company Will Gain a “Green” Reputation

Practising the recycling of concrete will gain your company a reputation for being “green” in its commitment to the environment if it does not already have it. When you have been environmentally conscious in other ways, you will enrich and strengthen your reputation in the business community and even with clients and customers by doing so.

To learn additional facts about the benefits of concrete recycling for businesses and the environment, consult with EcoCrush. Our recycling plant produces top-quality products from recycled crushed rock for use in the construction and building industries. Also, we provide a free tipping facility that is conveniently located at the back of Smart Recycling in Dandenong South. No load is too small or too large for us to handle. We believe in all of us working together to help our environment through recycling concrete.