Reuse of secondary building materials in road constructions

Abstract

Slags, asphalt and coal-ash, have long been used as secondary building materials. They are released when roads are reconstructed. Their reuse is presently prescribed in the Provincial Rules 'Working with Secondary Building Materials'. Mid-1998, a new national decree will become effective: the 'Building Materials Decree'. It lays down the guidelines for design, realisation and maintenance of constructions, aiming at avoiding contamination of the soil by secondary building materials. The implementation of this policy requires road constructors to adopt a new approach. They have to do environmental research, and pay attention to design, isolation measures, maintenance and possible monitoring measures. In practice this means that adhering to a schedule concerning environmental research is essential. The civil engineer needs to implement environmental aspects into his basic planning, design and realization process. The Environmental Engineering Division of Public Works Rotterdam has developed a working model which incorporates the Building Materials Decree into the current engineering planning process. This working model is an instrument used by the Port of Rotterdam.