Value-added recycling of domestic, industrial and construction arisings as concrete aggregate

摘要

The concrete industry places a heavy demand on mineral resources. It is estimated that 165 million tonnes of primary aggregate are used for concrete in the UK each year. Use of these aggregates is becoming increasingly unsustainable, due to environmental impact and resource depletion. This has resulted in the introduction of an aggregate levy by the UK government to encourage adoption of a more sustainable route and increase use of recycled and secondary aggregates. Since 1996, the Concrete Technology Unit (CTU) of the University of Dundee has undertaken research to develop value-added outlets for recycling/reusing large volumes of waste in concrete. This has shown considerable potential for use of the following as concrete aggregate: 1. domestic/industrial arisings (incinerator ash, glass cullet and used tyres) 2. construction wastes (demolition arisings and reject concrete elements).