Building waste – construction materials from your waste

Global demands on natural sand and gravel are growing beyond 50bn tonnes per year and there is a very real need to find alternative sources for construction. The basic processing of C&DW involves the introduction of dry processing equipment such as crushers and screens. This approach limits the use for the recycled sand and aggregates to low value construction applications such as backfill. This approach does not capitalise on the huge opportunity that construction, demolition and excavation waste offers both in terms of material recovery and the creation of high value products. These high value recycled sand and aggregates produced can be used across a wide range of construction applications including pipe bedding, concrete and block construction. There are even applications for the only waste product from the system, Filter Cake, such as pond lining, canal lining, landfill capping and trench fill. By using Filter Cake for these applications, the higher grade products can be conserved for higher value applications. A number of example past projects who are deploying innovative technologies and methods to sustain their business can be referred to during the presentation including – Inert Landfill, Scotland – Beginning life as a traditional quarry that had filled a disused quarry with C&DW over a period of 30 years, the company is now able to process 80% of this material and sell into the construction sector in Glasgow, while also extending the lifespan of the landfill. Recycling Facility, Germany – Supported by the EU Eco- Innovation Programme this facility installed an innovative wet processing system for C&DW recycling. The recycled materials are now used in concrete products. Construction Company, Norway – The world’s largest wet processing plant for C&DW with a capacity of 300tph. Examining the overburden from the company’s hard rock quarry the plant allows them to not only recycle the C&DW but also to recover material from the overburden which could subsequently be used in their integrated operations