GR TRUCKING AND CONCRETE RECYCLING
When structures made of concrete are demolished or renovated, concrete recycling is an increasingly common method of utilizing the rubble. Concrete was once routinely trucked to landfills for disposal, but recycling has a number of benefits that have made it a more attractive option in this age of greater environmental awareness, more environmental laws, and the desire to keep construction costs down.
At Gr Trucking, concrete aggregate collected from demolition sites is put through our crushing machines. Our crushing facilities accept only uncontaminated concrete, which must be free of trash, wood, paper and other such materials. The remaining aggregate chunks are sorted by size. Larger chunks may go through the crusher again.
Crushing at the actual construction site using portable crushers reduces construction costs and the pollution generated when compared with transporting material to and from our yard. Large road-portable plants can crush concrete and asphalt rubble at up to 600 tons per hour or more. These systems normally consist of a rubble crusher, side discharge conveyor, screening plant, and a return conveyor from the screen to the crusher inlet for reprocessing oversize materials. Compact, self-contained mini-crushers are also available that can handle up to 150 tons per hour and fit into tighter areas. With the advent of crusher attachments – those connected to various construction equipment, such as excavators – the trend towards recycling on-site with smaller volumes of material is growing rapidly.
USES OF RECYCLED CONCRETE
Smaller pieces of concrete are used as gravel for new construction projects. Sub-base gravel is laid down as the lowest layer in a road, with fresh concrete or asphalt poured over it. The US Federal Highway Administration may use techniques such as these to build new highways from the materials of old highways. Crushed recycled concrete can also be used as the dry aggregate for brand new concrete if it is free of contaminants.
Larger pieces of crushed concrete can be used as riprap revetments, which is an effective and popular method of controlling streambank erosion.”
With our proper quality control at our crushing facility, well graded and aesthetically pleasing materials can be provided as a substitute for landscaping stone or mulch.
BENEFITS OF CONCRETE RECYCLING
There are a variety of benefits to concrete recycling rather than dumping it or burying it in a landfill.
- Keeping concrete debris out of landfills saves landfill space.
- Using recycled material as gravel reduces the need for gravel mining.
- Using recycled concrete as the base material for roadways reduces the pollution involved in trucking material.