Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA)

In the beginning phases of construction, contractors may find themselves demolishing pre-existing structures such as concrete driveways, sidewalks, or other concrete foundations. You may be wondering, what becomes of this debris? Did you know that recycling this concrete debris has many benefits? From cutting new material costs, to being able to extend the lifespan of private and municipal landfills, using recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) can benefit individuals, private industry, municipalities, and counties.

How Is RCA Recycled

Once a sufficient quantity of concrete material has been collected, the material is typically processed with a rock crushing system (see image below) which effectively breaks the material down into smaller more manageable pieces of aggregate. The freshly crushed aggregates are then transported down one or more conveyor belt(s) that run under one or more magnet(s) which pull out ferrous metals, such as rebar and wire, from the stream of aggregate. From this point, the material may be diverted through a secondary crushing system and/or one or more screening systems in order to separate the finished aggregates into different sized products. Ferrous metals removed by the magnet(s) are typically removed and sent to scrap metal processing facilities as a byproduct of this process.

Benefits of Recycled Concrete

So, you may be asking next, what are the benefits of recycling concrete? Like most items we recycle, concrete can be re-used! Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) can be used as base material and as a subbase for new foundations and new sidewalks, or even as a supplement for new aggregates when mixed with cement, thereby helping reduce the need for newly mined aggregates. In certain areas, recycled concrete aggregate has been and continues to be used to create artificial coral reefs.

From a contractor’s point a view, recycling concrete helps cut costs on disposal of construction debris and reduces costs associated with the procurement of newly mined aggregate. On average, TxDOT will reclaim and reuses roughly one million tons of RCA annually. Thanks to third party suppliers, they are able to have that material crushed and reused in active projects throughout the state.

Transporting old concrete from project sites to landfills can come with hefty transportation fees, especially if a landfill is not nearby. If available in the area, some recycling companies will bring portable crushers to active construction sites and crush the concrete material at the active project site, thereby eliminating the need for the concrete material to be transported to a landfill. With TxDOT keeping one million tons of RCA out of landfills, they are reducing what is the equivalent of 46,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Conclusion

If you find yourself with large amounts of old concrete, whether you are a contractor or someone who recently completed a project at home, consider having it recycled! If you are unsure where to begin the recycling process, please give Westward Environmental, Inc. a call. Westward is connected to many companies that accept recycled concrete and we would be glad to get you in contact with the right people. Please give us a call at (830) 249-8284.