Abstract
Ireland reports high levels of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) recycling, yet has conducted little research into the use of recycled aggregates. This study examines whether recycled aggregate can offer a viable alternative to the use of natural aggregate in concrete production. The options available for the use of C&DW in Ireland are investigated together with the effect of recycled aggregate on concrete properties. The environmental impact of extracting and processing natural aggregates is compared to that of recycling aggregate, as are the cost and relative difficulties of reprocessing C&DW for re-use. There is little incentive for the use of recycled aggregate in Ireland. It is not without environmental impact and the long-term durability effects on concrete are still relatively unknown. The material can provide a cost effective alternative to natural aggregate. Recycled aggregate is highly suitable for use in pre-cast concrete products where problems associated with ready-mixed concrete use are not an issue. Retained cementitious properties of the material can also be used to good effect in road construction. Designing concrete with end of life and reuse potential in mind may further increase acceptance of the material. Recycled aggregate use in Ireland lags behind many other European countries, further difficulties may be experienced in gaining acceptance for a largely untested material in light of the recent pyrite controversy. This study may open the way for future research into greater use and the way in which policy could be utilised to fund such research and promote adoption of the material.
Highlights
Following the collapse of the Irish construction sector in 2008, there remained almost 3,000 unfinished or unoccupied housing developments across Ireland
This study examines previously published studies and reports, together with the experiences of those in industry, to compare recycled aggregate derived from construction and demolition waste (C&DW) and natural aggregate to determine if recycled aggregate could offer a viable alternative for use in the production of ready-mixed concrete In Ireland
In 2011, from figures reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Figure 2), it can be calculated that 67% of C&DW collected in Ireland comprised of soil and stone, which can be presumed to be excavated material, with less than 5.5% of the collected material containing rubble, which normally consists of waste concrete/block
Summary
Following the collapse of the Irish construction sector in 2008, there remained almost 3,000 unfinished or unoccupied housing developments across Ireland. The average European housing construction rate at that time was approximately 5.3 per thousand (Central Statistics Office [CSO], 2008) This over-development resulted in a pattern of surplus housing located largely in the more rural midlands and borders areas (Kitchin et al, 2010), whereas, it is expected that the greater requirement for housing in the near to medium future will predominantly occur in the larger urban areas and in the more densely populated Eastern half of the country (CSO, 2013; Finnegan, Maloney, & Duffy, 2012). The Department of the Environment stated that the most prudent policy may be to demolish the buildings as the developments appear unviable in both the short and long term due to their location, build quality and lack of commercial demand, (Housing Agency, 2012) This was followed with the announcement of the intention to clear 40 development sites in 2014 (Housing Agency, 2013)
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