The Cement

Sustainability
Initiative

Recycling Concrete
Executive summary

World Business Council for

Sustainable Development
Introduction
Concrete is everywhere. It is the second most consumed material after water Recycling concrete
and it shapes our built environment. Homes, schools, hospitals, offices, roads
reduces natural
and footpaths all make use of concrete. Concrete is an excellent material
to make long-lasting and energy-efficient buildings. However, even with
resource exploitation
good design, human needs change and potential waste will be generated. and associated
Changes in infrastructure planning and needs result in the generation of transportation costs,
construction and demolition waste (C&DW): an estimated 900 million and reduces waste
tonnes every year in Europe, the US and Japan.
going to landfill.
The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) has been looking at the recycling However, it has little
of concrete as a component of better business practice for sustainable impact on reducing
development. Concrete has fairly unique properties and its recovery often greenhouse gas
falls between standard definitions of reuse and recycling. Concrete is broken emissions.
down into aggregate for use in a new life. This new life is usually road works
aggregates, but in some areas it is also used as aggregates in new concrete.
In some countries near full recovery of concrete is achieved. However, in Twice as much
many parts of the world the potential to recover concrete is overlooked concrete is used in
and it ends up as unnecessary waste in landfill. Furthermore, concrete construction around
waste statistics are generally difficult to secure. This is partially explained by
the world than the
the relatively low hazard that the waste poses compared with some other
materials, resulting in low public concern.
total of all other
building materials,
Recovering concrete has two main advantages: (1) it reduces the use of including wood,
virgin aggregate and its associated environmental costs of exploitation and steel, plastic and
transportation; and (2) it reduces unnecessary landfill of valuable materials
aluminum.
that can be recovered and redeployed. Recovering concrete, however, has
no appreciable impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the product
life cycle of concrete, the main source of carbon emissions is the cement
production process (cement is added to aggregates to make concrete).
The cement content in concrete cannot be viably separated and reused or
recycled into new cement, and thus carbon reductions cannot be achieved
by recycling concrete.

At present, most recovered concrete is used in road sub-base and civil

engineering projects. From a sustainability viewpoint, these low-grade uses
currently provide the optimal outcome in most circumstances.

With good initial planning and design of buildings, well considered

renovation and managed demolition, the recovery and reuse of concrete is
achievable and will contribute to sustainable buildings and urban societies of
the future.

For the full report, go to www.wbcsdcement.org/recycling

Some myths and truths about concrete recycling

Myths Reality
Although concrete is not broken down into its constituent parts, it can
• Concrete cannot be recycled be recovered and crushed for reuse as aggregate (for use in ready-mix
concrete or other applications) or it can be recycled through the cement
manufacturing process in controlled amounts, either as an alternative
raw material to produce clinker or as an additional component when
grinding clinker, gypsum and other additives to cement.

• Recycled concrete aggregate cannot It is generally accepted that about 20% (or more) of aggregate content
be used for structural concrete can be replaced by recycled concrete for structural applications.

• Although some concrete can be recycled Countries such as the Netherlands and Japan achieve near complete
it is not possible to achieve high rates recovery of waste concrete.

• Concrete can be 100% made by Current technology means that recovered concrete can be used as
recycling old concrete aggregate in new concrete but (1) new cement is always needed and
(2) in most applications only a portion of recycled aggregate content
can be used (regulations often limit content as do physical properties,
particularly for structural concrete).

• Recycling concrete will reduce greenhouse Most greenhouse gas emissions from concrete production occur during
gases and the carbon footprint the production of cement. Less-significant savings may be made if
transportation needs for aggregates can be reduced by recycling.

A full lifecycle assessment should be undertaken. Sometimes low-grade

• Recycling concrete into low-grade aggregate use is the most sustainable solution as it diverts other resources from
is down-cycling and is environmentally the project and uses minimal energy in processing. That is not to say
not the best solution more refined uses might not also suit a situation.

• Recycled aggregate is more expensive This depends on local conditions (including transportation costs).

Tr u t h s Rationale

• Cement cannot be recycled Once cement clinker is made, the process is irreversible.
No commercially viable processes exist to recycle cement.

• Demolition concrete is inert Compared to other wastes, concrete is relatively inert

and does not usually require special treatment.

• Recycled concrete can be better than The physical properties of coarse aggregates made from crushed
virgin aggregates for some applications demolition concrete make it the preferred material for applications
such as road base and sub-base. This is because recycled aggrega-
tes often have better compaction properties and require less
cement for sub-base uses. Furthermore, it is generally cheaper to
obtain than virgin material.

• Using recycled aggregate reduces By using recycled aggregates in place of virgin materials (1) less
land-use impact landfill is generated and (2) fewer natural resources are extracted.

• Recycling all construction and demolition Even near complete recovery of concrete from C&DW will only
waste (C&DW) will not meet market supply about 20% of total aggregate needs in the developed
needs for aggregate world.

• Figures are not complete for recovery rates Data are often not available. When data are available different
methods of counting make cross-country comparisons difficult.
Concrete – What is it made of and how much is there?
Concrete is made from coarse aggregate (stone and gravel),
fine aggregate (sand), cement and water. Natural aggregates How much waste is there?
can be replaced by aggregates made from recycled concrete. Estimates for major regions include
Fly ash, slag and silica fume can be used as cementious (in millions of metric tonnes per year):
materials reducing the cement content. These materials can
be added as a last step in cement production or when the
concrete is made. Amount
of waste (Mt) Europe USA Japan

Construction 510 317 77

In the developed world most cement is made industrially into
and demolition
concrete and sold as ready-mix concrete. On a smaller scale, waste (C&DW)
and more commonly in developing countries, concrete is
made on the construction site by individual users. Municipal
241 228 53
waste

Concrete can be recycled from: Sources: Eurostat; Construction Materials Recycling Association; Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport of Japan; US EPA; Ministry of Environment of Japan.
• Returned concrete that is fresh (wet)
from ready-mix trucks
• Production waste at a pre-cast production facility Global data on waste generation are not available.
• Waste from construction and demolition. Many countries do make construction and demolition
waste estimates, a significant proportion of which
The most significant source is demolition waste. is attributable to concrete (along with asphalt,
wood and steel and other products in smaller
quantities). There are vast regional differences due to
construction traditions and the concrete content of
Concrete construction and demolition waste can be anywhere
from 20% to 80%.
• Concrete is the second most consumed
material in the world after water
• Concrete forms the basis for much
of today’s urban environment
• An estimated 30 billion tonnes
of concrete were consumed globally
in 2006, compared to 2 billion
tonnes in 1950

Cement
• 5% to 20% of concrete is made
up of cement
• 95% of all manufactured cement is
used to make various types of concrete
• Once concrete has been mixed, cement
cannot be extracted from it for recycling
How can recycled concrete be used? For concrete
A common misperception is that recycled concrete aggregate
As aggregate (coarse and fine and as fill material) should not be used for structural concrete. Australian
As blocks in original or cut-down form government guidelines state that up to 30% of recycled
aggregate can be used for structural concrete without any
Use as aggregate noticeable difference in workability and strength compared
Most recycled concrete is used as aggregate in road sub-base. with virgin aggregate.

When well cleaned, the quality of recycled concrete Significant potential for an increase in the use of coarse
aggregate is generally comparable to virgin aggregate. recycled aggregate in concrete remains. In some countries,
The possibilities for use are equally comparable although the notably Germany, Switzerland and Australia, concrete
use of crushed concrete in new fresh concrete is rare. containing recycled aggregate is now being marketed and
used. A notable example from Germany is the Waldspirale
Recycled aggregate accounts for ~6% to 8% of aggregate complex containing 105 residential dwellings designed by
use in Europe, with significant differences between countries. Friedensreich Hundertwasser in Darmstadt. Completed in
The greatest users are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, 2000, the building makes use of recycled aggregate in the
Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. In 2000 an estimated concrete.
~5% of aggregate in the US was recycled.
To the extent that recycled aggregate is used in concrete,
it tends to be mainly in ready-mix concrete.

Reuse in original form

Reuse of blocks in their original form, or by cutting them into
smaller blocks, has even less environmental impact although
only a limited market currently exists. Improved building
designs that allow for slab reuse and building transformation
without demolition could increase this use. Hollow core
concrete slabs are easy to dismantle and the span is normally
constant, making them good for reuse.

The quality of the recycled aggregate depends

Croatia
Denmark
Norway
Portugal
Turkey
Spain
Finland
Slovakia
Ireland
Italy
Sweden
Romania
France
Austria
Poland
Czech Republic
Germany
Switzerland
Belgium
Netherlands
United Kingdom

on the original material: demolition waste can

present challenges

Concrete can be recycled from wastes from

Source: UEPG 2005 and 2006 statistics published 2008
production, waste returned in ready-mix
Use for road base, pavement and sub-base is widespread trucks, construction wastes and demolition
and the most common. In the US its use and acceptance wastes. Demolition waste is the most
significant source, however this is also the
has been promoted by the Federal Highway Administration,
most challenging source as (1) the concrete
which has adopted a pro-use policy and undertaken research
is usually mixed with other construction and
in the area. When used as a base and sub-base, recycled
demolition waste and (2) the makeup and
aggregate has been found to have superior strength to virgin history of the original concrete mix is less
aggregate, providing a very good construction base for new likely to be known. Strong building codes
pavement. Various civil engineering projects can also use improve quality at all stages of use.
coarse aggregate.
Current barriers and benefits for greater use of recycled concrete
Some key barriers and benefits include:

Issue Barriers Benefits

Material cost vis-à-vis Low economic cost of virgin Aggregates levies and transportation
natural aggregate aggregate in some countries. costs for natural aggregates can be
higher. Overall project costs can be
reduced as less landfill taxes/fees
are paid on C&DW as the material is
recovered instead of being landfilled.

Availability Non-regular supply of C&DW. C&DW is usually found in urban

of material areas near construction and
development projects.
Virgin materials often need to
be transported over greater distances.

Processing C&DW on-site waste Once infrastructure is

infrastructure management plans are needed. established mobile sorting units
C&DW may need to be sorted. and dedicated facilities can
High-value recovered concrete provide good returns.
requires costly processes.

Public attitudes Misconception that recovered Increasing environmental

concrete is of lower quality. concerns leading to increased
New materials are perceived as being demand for eco-friendly
of better quality. products and reuse of materials.

Laws, regulations Classification of recovered Positive recycling laws,

and industry concrete as waste can increase landfill taxes and green
accepted standards reporting and permit procurement policies by large
requirements. Extra limitations users can all promote
can be placed on use. recycled concrete use.

Environmental impacts Processing technology for Within a life cycle analysis, use of
recovery of concrete should recovered concrete can lower
consider possible air and noise overall environmental impact.
pollution impacts as well as energy • Failing to use recovered materials
consumption, although there increases landfill and associated
is little difference to natural environmental and health costs
aggregates processing. • Failing to use recovered materials
means virgin materials are used
instead
• Recovered concrete is generally inert
• In some cases, transportation needs
for recycled concrete can be lower
than virgin materials (often not
located in urban development areas)
and as such fuel consumption, CO2
emissions and road and vehicle use
can be reduced.

Physical properties For specialized applications (e.g. high For most uses, recycled concrete
performance concrete) there are some performs well.
limitations on fitness for use.
Technology can also limit recycling
options.
Green building design & practices Recommendations
Today, the green building market is estimated to be a US$ 12 Concrete can be and is being recovered. The Cement
billion industry in the US. The sustainable use of concrete in Sustainability Initiative (CSI) supports initiatives targeted at an
buildings encompasses several green building issues, namely: ultimate goal of “zero landfill” of concrete.

1. Sustainability in initial design However, it needs to be noted that cement producers can
Durable flexible designs improve the life of a building only have an indirect role in supporting concrete recycling
and allow future adaptations. Off-site prefabrication can and the “zero landfill” goal. The CSI hopes that raising
be considered. Design for deconstruction should also awareness of concrete recycling will promote discussion
be considered. and encourage recycling of concrete by all stakeholders.
Cement producers can be particularly involved with the work
2. Optimum use of input materials in design of subsidiaries in the concrete, aggregate and construction
Reuse and recycling of materials can often be the optimal industries.
solution for sustainability. Concrete use can also improve
building energy efficiency in some designs. Towards the “zero landfill” of concrete goal, the
following recommendations are made:
3. On-site waste management plans • Key stakeholder dialogue to develop reliable
These maximize the potential for materials reuse and and consistent statistics
recycling and minimize negative environmental and • Governments and other key players to publicize
health effects. In particular, sorting can improve recovery construction and demolition waste data
and quality of recovered products. • Set targets for use in both road construction
and building industries
• Develop economic incentives and legislation to allow
infrastructure to develop and to promote concrete
Green buildings rating systems recycling
The ability to maximize concrete recycling is influenced by • Research and development to consider further recovery
the extent to which building codes and green rating schemes techniques and uses
recognize concrete recycling. In general there are few legal • Green building schemes should further encourage good
restrictions on using recycled concrete as aggregate in construction and demolition waste management and
building projects for filling, sub-base, asphalt and outdoor the use of recycled concrete aggregate
landscaping. • Key stakeholder publicity to change public misconceptions

There are however often limitations on the amount that can

Stakeholder groups that can contribute to increasing
be used in structural concrete. Often the main reason for concrete recycling rates include:
limited use is misguided public perception with regard to the
• Ready-mix manufacturers and aggregate producers
quality of recycled concrete or even a lack of consideration
• Recycling enterprises
of the possibilities for its use. Green building schemes and • Road builders
rating systems can change this perception, especially if • Construction and demolition enterprises
• Building norms and standards bodies
recycling concrete and using recycled concrete as a material • Local governments/town planners
is specifically addressed. • Waste regulators
• Trade associations
• Environmental agencies and NGOs
Well-known green building rating systems include LEED • Architects and Green building industry
(USA), BREEAM (United Kingdom), CASBEE (Japan) and HQE • Research bodies and universities
• The consumers and the general public
(France), among others.
 www.wbcsdcement.org

CSI members About the WBCSD

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
is a unique, CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies
dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development. The
USA Switzerland Council provides a platform for companies to explore sustainable
development, share knowledge, experiences and best practices,
and to advocate business positions on these issues in a variety of
forums, working with governments and non-governmental and
Brazil Italy intergovernmental organizations.
www.wbcsd.org

About the CSI

Mexico France

The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) is a global effort by 18

leading cement producers. Headquartered in 14 countries, they have
operations in more than 100 countries. Collectively, these companies
account for about 30% of the world’s cement production and range
Spain Portugal
in size from very large multinationals to smaller local producers.
All CSI members have integrated sustainable development into
their business strategies and operations, as they seek strong financial
performance with an equally strong commitment to social and
SHREE CEMENT LTD.

Spain India
environmental responsibility. Over its 10-year history, the CSI has
focused on understanding, managing and minimizing the impacts
of cement production and use by addressing a range of issues,
including: climate change, fuel use, employee safety, airborne
Portugal Thailand
emissions, concrete recycling and quarry management.
www.wbcsdcement.org

Project Director
Howard Klee

Ireland Japan
World Business Council for WBCSD
Sustainable Development – WBCSD North America Office

Chemin de Conches 4 1744 R Street NW

1231 Conches-Geneva Washington, D.C. 20009
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Photo credits: CSI participating companies, Istockphoto
Copyright: © WBCSD. July 2009
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