Construction and demolition waste applications and maximum daily output in Spanish recycling plants

Abstract

The pursuit of construction sustainability has driven the use of partially or wholly waste-based eco-materials. New applications are being sought for recycled aggregate (RA) to further the use of this material and ensure the survival of the construction and demolition waste (C&DW) industry. RA, currently used in the construction of pavements, fills and embankments and only incipiently to manufacture structural or non-structural concrete, is a mere 8.99% of the total aggregate extracted in EU countries where RA is produced. Against this backdrop, the utility of this study lies in the overview afforded of RA typology, the application of the product in bound or unbound materials, the pursuit of new applications, structural or otherwise, and the assessment of daily maximum output by C&DW recycling facilities in Spain. The findings show that irrespective of its origin, RA most commonly adopts the form of wet mix macadam, gravel or sand used primarily in unbound applications with only dubious quality standards. Plant managers contend that RA from clean waste can feasibly be used in bound applications that require higher-performance materials. Maximum daily output varies widely, with capacity under 200 t d-1 in 30% of the plants. One of the conclusions drawn is that the current business model is in need of revision, with an emphasis on aggregate quality control (certification) and the adoption of technology for separating out impurities, pollutants and undesirable materials to improve the quality of RA.

The Experimental Study of the Utilization of Recycling Aggregate from the Demolition of Elements of a Reinforced Concrete Hall

“…Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is generated in the process of construction and demolition of buildings and other structures. Nowadays the growth of urbanization, construction of buildings, repairs and maintenance result in increased CDW [3]. According to the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) of the European Union and the EU Parliament, by 2020 a minimum of 70% of CDW should be recovered [4].…”

Spatial and Temporal Evolution Patterns of Construction Waste Generation and Influencing Factors - China Case Study

“…Construction waste is a product that inevitably emerges alongside human development, and academics at home and abroad have conducted a large number of studies. From the viewpoint of the life cycle of construction waste, the existing studies include the stages of construction waste generation (Rodriguez et al, 2020), classification (Sampaio et al, 2021;Z. L. Wang et al, 2020), transportation (Ferronato et al, 2022), reuse (Jin et al, 2017;Umar et al, 2021), recycling (Colangelo et al, 2021;Gao et al, 2015;Kim, 2021) and disposal (Letman et al, 2018;G.…”

Assessing the Feasibility, Usability, and Durability of Recycled Construction and Demolition Waste in Road Construction in Morocco

“…However, the suitability of recycled CDWs aggregates depends on their physico-chemical and mechanical properties [2,29,[34][35][36][37]. Therefore, different countries, such as European countries, have developed and implemented standardized limits for controlling the production and use of recycled CDWs aggregates in road construction projects, taking into account heterogeneity, density, water absorption, shape, toughness and hardness of the aggregates [5,38,39].…”