Recycling concrete – a sustainable & affordable solution

Recycling Concrete: A Sustainable and Affordable Waste Solution

When most people think of recycling, it brings up mental images of blue and green residential recycling bins and garden clippings. The fact is, there is potential to recycle almost anything, including concrete.

Concrete recycling has been a major step forward in reducing waste generated by the demolition and construction industries – traditionally significant sources of waste materials going to landfill.

Scope of the problem

Walk around any suburban area and take note of the amount of concrete used in buildings, roads and other structures. Unsurprisingly, concrete is the most widely used construction material, generating an oppressive amount of building waste. Construction and demolition waste accounts for around 45 per cent of total waste in Australia.

The impacts of concrete being disposed of in landfills are far-reaching. The sheer quantities of concrete choke landfills and overload capacity.

Despite concrete being an inert product, producing new concrete significantly contributes to carbon emissions and energy consumption.

The wonderful thing about concrete is, it is 100 per cent recyclable. Better still, recycling concrete is more economical and environmentally friendly than disposing of it in landfill. This means it is cheaper for consumers to buy recycled concrete than relying on concrete that is made from virgin materials.

Recycled concrete can be transformed into eco products, which can be used in a diverse spectrum of projects and applications including road sub-base, civil engineering projects and raw materials to create more concrete.

In Australia, individual states have introduced levies to act as a deterrent to businesses seeking to dump waste directly into landfills. The collected monies are then channelled into environmentally positive waste management initiatives and projects.

Concrete recycling process

Recycling concrete has a significant, sustainable impact on waste management by decreasing reliance on natural resources and reducing waste to landfill.

In general, recycling concrete follows the following process:

• Collected concrete is crushed into smaller, manageable pieces using either impact crushers, jaw crushers or cone crushers.
• Crushed concrete is then sorted into different sizes – from crusher dust through to larger pieces.
• Crushed concrete is then screened to remove any impurities, contaminants or large particles.
• Once screened, the concrete undergoes further purification via cleaning and sorting to remove foreign debris such as metal, plastics or wood.
• The fine material is then scrutinised as part of quality control. This inspection tests the concrete against quality standards including strength and durability.
• The final product is then used in place of new raw materials in a wide range of construction projects.

Benefits of concrete recycling

Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) is generally cheaper than virgin materials. It has a lower density which results in reduced costs and increased project efficiency. Furthermore, due to better compaction properties, it yields up to 15 percent more volume by weight. The physical properties of RCA make it the ideal material for road base and sub-base.

Why choose SKIPZ?

SKIPZ hope to educate people by highlighting the benefits of choosing a company which recycles over one that tips directly to landfill. This enables them to make an informed decision about where their residential or construction waste ends up.

In Victoria, SKIPZ operates Green Star certified recycling facilities in both Dandenong and Port Melbourne. Through our joint venture partners, Delta Group, the largest processors of construction and demolition waste streams in Australia, our operations contribute to more than two million tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill each year.

In Queensland, we utilise local Green Star certified recycling facilities for our Brisbane waste management services.

SKIPZ Recycling offers both residential and commercial skip bin hire – recycling concrete, scrap steel and timber, diverting them away from landfills and contributing to a circular economy.

Whether you are looking to hire a skip bin for a small residential clean-up or a large-scale construction project, SKIPZ Recycling has a waste management solution to suit your needs.

Call us today on 1300 335 822 or use our fast and convenient online booking system.