Abstract
This research characterizes four samples of recycled aggregate for their potential use in road construction projects in consonance with the Spanish General Technical Specifications for Roads and Bridge Works (PG-3). Although some fractions were of sufficient quality for the construction of embankments, backfills, and quarry-run fills, they were ultimately found to be unsuitable for the construction of underground drainage, granular structural layers, soil stabilization and concrete pavements. They were negatively evaluated because of their particle size distribution and sulfate content. Nevertheless, the quality of this recycled aggregate could be substantially improved by manually removing the gypsum before the crushing process at the plant or by selecting the material with greater care at the beginning of the process. Finally, we suggest that Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste plant managers should modify the manufacturing process to obtain a suitable particle size distribution in accordance with PG-3 requirements and the projected use of the aggregate.
Highlights
AND OBJECTIVEDuring the past decades, Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste has been most often disposed of in landfills
Characterization results have been analyzed, according to the specifications of the PG-3, in order to study the feasibility of using the mixed recycled aggregates selected as alternative materials in: roadbeds, drainage fillers, road structural layers and road surfaces
Our study focused on four mixed fractions from the C&D waste treatment plant
Summary
Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste has been most often disposed of in landfills. In recent years, recognition of the potential for the diversion of waste components from landfills has made C&D waste management a focus of interest in European Union legislation. After reducing waste at the site, priority must be given to its reuse, recycling, and valorization before opting for its final disposal in landfills (3) (4). Many European countries and regions have established methods and regulations to foment the collection, evaluation, and reuse of waste in construction (5) (6). In Spain, there is still no national legislation regulating the environmental assessment of secondary materials. The environmental agencies of the regional governments in Spain are responsible for regulating the use of secondary materials in roads and other construction applications (3). This is the case of the Spanish General Technical Specifications for Roads and Bridge Works (PG-3) regulates the materials used in road sections profiles (7)
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