Environmental Assessment of Two Use Cycles of Recycled Aggregate Concrete

Tereza Pavlů, Vladimír Kočí and Petr Hájek
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Tereza Pavlů: University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings, Technical University, Prague, Trinecka 1024, 273 43 Bustehrad, Czech Republic
Vladimír Kočí: Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 5, 166 28 Praha 6 – Dejvice, Prague, Czech Republic
Petr Hájek: University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings, Technical University, Prague, Trinecka 1024, 273 43 Bustehrad, Czech Republic

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 21, 1-22

Abstract: The main goal of this study was to compare two use cycles of natural aggregate concrete and recycled aggregate concrete, which is another way to compare the environmental impacts of recycled materials. A series of concrete mixtures with various replacement ratios of primary resources with recycled ones were prepared for this study. The mechanical properties of concrete mixtures were examined and were used for the design of structural elements in the same utilized properties. The two use cycles of a structural element were compared using life cycle assessment (LCA). In the first use cycle, the LCA of the structural element containing only primary raw materials was assessed. In the second use cycle, the LCA of a structural element in which primary materials were partially replaced by recycled ones was assessed. The obtained results confirm the potential use of high-quality recycled aggregate originating from local sources in some applications in building structures. Furthermore, the environmental assessment indicates the benefits of using recycled materials, such as environmental savings, especially the reduction of primary resource use, embodied energy, and embodied emissions, as well as reduction of the pressure on landfill sites.

Keywords: construction and demolition waste; recycled concrete aggregate; recycled aggregate concrete; recycled concrete powder; LCA, environmental savings; raw material savings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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