Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary
Content archived on 2024-04-16

Development of demolition waste recycling

Objective

To develop the use of recycled materials specially in the field of construction concrete processing.
To promote recycling of non or weakly recycled materials containing impurities such as plasters in setting up permissible limits. The results will be used for drafting recommendations for the use of recycled products as granulates in the processing of building concretes. They will particularly deal with the areas for their use and the techniques for making and using the recycled concrete, and also reiterate the techniques of reuse already known in road building.
The development of demolition waste recycling has been studied, paying special attention to the use of recycled materials as aggregates in concrete, and to the recycling of material not acceptable in processing because of impurities (especially plaster). A detailed costed report on the current state of recycling in France was produced indicating recent major development, highly regional establishment of facilities, marked bias in favour of clean materials, virtual exclusive use of recycled materials in road construction, and the unsuitability of the French national standard for application to recycled aggregates A detailed report was produced on recycling in Spain, showing the only development to be in Barcelona. General surveys of the recycling of demolition material in the Benelux countries, Germany and United Kingdom were undertaken. A comparative summary of the surveys was compiled.
A methodology was developed for taking samples suitable for current production of recycled aggregates.
The precise physicochemical properties of recycled aggregates were determined, demonstrating the quality of these materials which may be further improved by secondary crushing. Only the high porosity and the high coefficient of absorption required special precautions during manufacture.
An analysis of the properties of concrete containing recycled aggregates confirmed the good performance of these concretes, providing that certain precautions were taken during manufacture with presetting of the aggregates, and that recycled sand was used with care. The influence of pollution (particularly plaster) was studied by analysing concretes containing recycled aggregates from a traditional building whose materials are not currently acceptable in recycling plants. Critical thresholds of the sulphate contents were determined as well as the nature of the cements suitable for this application. A methodology was established for an economic analysis. A draft practical guide was drawn up for the use of recycled aggregates in concrete.
It comprises 5 steps :

Study of existing plants in France and Spain and comparisons with similar plants in the Netherlands, Belgium, FRG and UK.
Development of the use of recycled materials:

identification of the characteristics of the recycled materials;
possibilities of using scrap materials in hydraulic concrete.

Study of the impact of pollutions.
Economic study.
Drafting recommendations.

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Coordinator

Centre Expérimental de Recherches et d'Etudes du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics (CEBTP)
EU contribution
No data
Address
Domaine de Saint-Paul
78470 Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
France

See on map

Total cost
No data

Participants (3)