The world is more focused now than ever before on creating a greener and more sustainable environment. Many industries have taken on recycling and finding new ways to use discarded materials. Construction companies can be one of the biggest to add waste into the environment when it comes to left over cement, steel, and other building materials.
Concrete contractors need to be mindful of ways they can use leftover materials. Recycled concrete can be used in the creation of new roads, smaller buildings, and even helping with shoreline erosion. Below we discuss ways you can recycle concrete, how it’s recycled, and other uses.
Why you should recycle concrete
Over the years, concrete contractors, business owners, and homeowners have realized the benefits associated with recycling concrete. One reason is an increase of efficiency and social responsibility. Another reason is there are economical and logistical benefits. The list of why you should reuse and recycle concrete is endless.
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Concrete, wood, and other construction materials take up a ton of space in landfills, so recycling old concrete floors helps reduce the amount of space taken. There is no need for concrete to sit in a landfill as the lifespan of concrete exceeds 20 years.
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The recycling process minimizes the need for additional transportation, ultimately cutting down the amount of pollution generated from the trucks and heavy equipment involved and reducing your carbon footprint.
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Third parties can be created and hired to manage the recycling process, increasing employment opportunities in the community.
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A considerable amount of money can be saved in this process because no materials need to be hauled to a landfill. It eliminates the need for excessive labor and construction costs.
How concrete is recycled
The concrete recycling process involves breaking, removing, and crushing the concrete and repurposing it to be utilized in other places. While it may seem like it costs a lot of money to get the industrial equipment needed to break and crush the concrete and the time taken to do it, it can actually help to reduce construction costs. It will save money on transporting concrete to landfills and eliminate disposal costs.
A variety of industrial equipment is used to break up the concrete. After that is complete, it is then run through an impactor, sifted and sorted to separate small and large aggregate. At this point in the process, additional equipment such as water flotation and magnets may be used to get rid of any other unwanted particles. Both the small and large pieces can be reused and integrated into other projects around your business or home.
Uses for recycled concrete
There are plenty of ways that recycled concrete can be used in businesses that can end up saving money on additional projects. Once the concrete is clean and ready to be used, it can be a great addition to many projects.
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While it is still fairly new, recycled concrete can be used in new asphalt pavement for foundations, sidewalks, curbs, alleyways, and streets.
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Recycled concrete floors can be used for smaller landscaping projects and constructed into materials like benches, raised garden walls, landscape stones, and more.
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Recycled concrete is great to be used underground when using pipes. It creates a great bedding stabilizer and helps achieve a firm foundational base.
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Wire gabions can be created and used as decorative walls or retaining walls in smaller buildings.
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When properly crushed and filtered, concrete can replace river rock and be used as ground covers and mulch.
When it comes to concrete, you should consider recycling your concrete by creating a custom concrete project. Custom Concrete Creations is Omaha’s preferred decorative flooring contractor. We bring experience, passion, and professionalism to every project and take pride in our unparalleled customer service. Visit our website or give us a call for more information!