Recycle the Old Concrete!
Recycling is a byword in modern society. Where possible, we recycle old products to reduce the amount of resources we use to make new products. Recycling concrete is no different. When clients start a new concrete project, they often break up and discard an old concrete project. Make sure to recycle the old concrete with Sacramento County Solid Waste Disposal, or your local waste removal company, to lessen your environmental impact. But what happens when you recycle concrete?
The World Needs Aggregates
Making concrete requires aggregates — small rocks, gravel, or pebbles. The aggregate gives the hardened cement strength. Aggregate is also used as a base underneath concrete foundations, roadways and walkways to provide a level surface for laying the new concrete. New aggregates are produced by mining them — digging them out of deposits in the ground. The need for new aggregates affects the environment by encouraging more mining and all the resources expenditures that goes with it.
The amount of mined aggregate required for construction is reduced or eliminated by recycling concrete. Old concrete is an excellent source of aggregate after it is cleaned, crushed, and sorted into different sizes. A 2009 study at Chicago’s busy O’Hare Airport demonstrated the effectiveness of concrete recycling. Old airport concrete that needed replacement was recycled into aggregate onsite. This process limited both transportation costs and purchasing of new materials. Then two lanes of new concrete were laid down at the same flight gate, one using new aggregates and the other using recycled aggregates. Both lanes of concrete were closely monitored and the concrete made with recycled aggregate was found to be just as durable as that made with new aggregate.
Recycled concrete can also be made into very fine aggregates, sandy substances that replace natural sand. Just like larger aggregates, this material too has been tested for use in epoxy-based concrete repair. The recycled fine aggregates create epoxy repair materials that are just as effective as epoxy mixes using sand, and they are considerably less expensive to use.
How You Can Promote Concrete Recycling
There are a number of things you can do to promote concrete recycling. Here are some of them:
- Whenever you get rid of old concrete, make sure that it is sent for recycling instead of being dumped in the garbage or sent straight to the landfill.
- When you lay new concrete, use recycled aggregates for base material and in the mixing of the concrete.
- Look for ways to use epoxy coatings on your concrete. Epoxy helps concrete last longer and look more beautiful.
- Repair concrete with epoxy coatings that use recycled fine aggregates.
For help with using epoxy to beautify, protect, and repair concrete contact California Custom Coatings. We work in Sacramento and Northern California to provide service for new and old concrete installations. Contact us online or by phone for assistance today!