CONSTRUCTION WASTE RECYCLING

Construction Waste Recycling

• The promotion of environmental management and the mission of sustainable development have exerted the pressure demanding for the adoption of proper methods to protect the environment across all industries including construction.
• Construction by nature is not an eco-friendly activity.
• Construction,renovation and demolition activities leads to the formation of waste.

 

NEED FOR ADOPTION OF PROPER METHODS OF RECYCLING

a) It reduces the demand up on new resources.

b) Cuts down the cost and effort of transport and production.

c) Use waste which would otherwise be lost to landfill sites.

 

CONSTRUCTION WASTE PROBLEM

• WASTE- Material by-product of human and industrial activity that has no residual value.
• Need for Comprehensive construction waste management in every site.
• Every personnel,from the management to the operational level should work for the goal of construction waste management.

AGGREGATE FROM CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE

• Recycled precast elements and cubes after testing (the aggregate could be relatively clean with only cement paste adhering to it).
• Demolished concrete building(aggregate could be contaminated with bricks and tiles, sand and dust, timber, plastics, cardboard and paper and metals.)
• Used as a subtitle for natural coarse aggregates in concrete

 

FACTORS THAT ASSESS THE QUALITY OF RECYCLED AGGREGATE

• Size distribution

It has been generally accepted that recycled aggregates either fine or coarse can be obtained by primary and secondary crushing and subsequent removal of impurities.

The best particle distribution can be achieved by primary crushing and then secondary crushing, but a single crushing process is more effective from the economic point of view.

• Absorption

The water absorption in Recycled Aggregates ranges from ( 3-12% ), this value is much higher than that of natural aggregates whose absorption is about ( 0.5- 1 % ).

• Abrasion resistance

Use of such aggregates as sub base in flexible pavements show promising results. These recycled aggregates have also been used in generating concrete that is further used in rigid pavements.

 

PROPERTIES OF FRESH RECYCLED AGGREGATE CONCRETE

• The air content of recycled aggregate concrete is slightly higher ( 4-5 % ) than concrete with natural aggregate. This increased air content in the recycled concrete leads to reduction in the density of fresh concrete.
• The bulk density of fresh concrete made with natural aggregates is in the range of 2400 kg/m3, where as the concrete made with recycled aggregates is significantly lighter, 2150 kg/m3.

 

VIABLE TECHNOLOGY ON CONSTRUCTION WASTE RECYCLING

When considering a recyclable material, three major areas need to be taken in to account are:

• Economy
• Compatibility with other materials
• Material properties

 

DIFFERENT WASTES IN A CONSTRUCTION SITE

• Brick

Bricks arising from demolition may be contaminated with more mortar, plaster and are often mixed with other materials such as timber and concrete.In recent years, bricks are commonly crushed to form filling materials.

• Concrete

The most usual way to recycle concrete rubble is categorized as:

a) Bound ( natural aggregate replacement in new concrete )

b) Unbound ( road base, trench etc )

• Ferrous Metal

It is by far the most profitable and recyclable material.

In India more than 80% scrap arising is recycled. Scrap steel is almost totally recycled and allowed repeated recycling. 100% steel can be recycled to avoid wastage at construction site.

• Masonry

Masonry is normally crushed as recycled masonry aggregate.

A special application of recycled masonry aggregate is to use it as thermal insulating concrete.

Another potential application for recycled masonry aggregate is to use it as aggregate in traditional clay bricks.

 

• Non Ferrous Metal

The main non ferrous metal collected from construction and demolition sites are aluminum, copper, lead and zinc .

In India aluminum usage is up to 95000 tonnes with about 70% recycled in 2004. Copper is recycled up to 119000 tonnes out of a national market of 262000 tonnes.

 

• Paper And Cardboard

Paper and paper board comprise approximately 37% construction and demolition wastes by volume.It usually attracts recyclers to reprocess them as new paper product by purification.

 

• Plastic

The plastic wastes are best possible for recycling if these materials are collected separately and cleaned. Recycling is difficult if plastic wastes are mixed with other plastics or contaminants.

Plastic may be recycled and used in products specifically designed for the utilization of recycled plastic, such as street furniture, roof and floor, PVC window noise barrier, cable ducting, panel.

Japan practices adopted burning of waste plastic at high temperature and turning them in to ultra fine particles, known as man made soil.

• Timber

Timber waste from construction and demolition works is produced in large quantity all over the world.

Whole timber arising from construction and demolition works can be utilized easily and directly for reused in other construction projects after cleaning, denailing and sizing.

BARRIERS IN PROMOTING USE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS

• Lack of appropriately located recycling facilities.
• Absence of appropriate technology.
• Lack of awareness