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    • Recycled Vs Natural Aggregate - Everything Contractors Need To Know

    Aggregates are key components in the construction industry. No matter the scale of your project, whether you’re building bridges and roads or paving driveways or landscaping, you’ll probably need to use aggregates such as natural gravel, sand, or stone chippings. 

    Sustainable aggregates are now becoming a much more common alternative to natural aggregates in this industry, helping businesses reduce their carbon footprints and associated costs. 

    If you’re in the market for aggregates and wondering whether to opt for recycled or natural variants, keep reading to learn about the differences between natural aggregate and recycled aggregate. Once you know the pros and cons of both, you’ll be able to make an informed choice between the two. 

    Storefield Aggregates supplies top-quality recycled and natural aggregate obtained directly from our quarries and recycling centres in Northamptonshire. 

    What Are Recycled Aggregates?

    Recycled or sustainable aggregates are obtained from recycling, by reprocessing the building waste generated from demolition and other construction-related activities. 

    The waste is collected from sites and instead of being directly dumped into landfill sites, it’s sorted, cleaned and processed to produce green aggregate. This is then reintroduced into the supply chain.

    When you choose to use recycled aggregate in civil engineering projects, you can reduce the stress on natural resources and prevent pollution by helping reduce the unnecessary dumping of construction waste into landfill sites.

    What Are Natural Aggregates?

    Natural aggregates, as the name suggests, are obtained directly from natural sources, such as quarries, river beds and gravel pits. Natural aggregates were traditionally favoured in the construction industry due to their strength, quality, durability and ease of availability. 

    But, quarrying aggregates require a lot of energy, creates an excessive amount of pollution, and depletes our natural reserves - not to mention that the quarrying process itself is dangerous. 

    To better understand the difference between natural aggregate and recycled aggregate, let’s look at the pros and cons of each. 

    Pros and Cons of Recycled Aggregate

    Benefits of Recycled Aggregates

    • Using sustainable aggregate is environmentally friendly as it reduces landfill waste and demand for natural resources.
    • These aggregates are more affordable than natural aggregates due to reduced production and transportation costs.
    • The production process for recycled aggregates requires less energy than quarrying.
    • Recycled aggregates are strong and durable.
    • These aggregates can be used for multiple applications, from building road bases to drainage and landscaping.
    • You have multiple quality options when you’re choosing a sustainable aggregate.

    Drawbacks of Using Green Aggregate

    • Recycled aggregates might contain impurities that affect their performance if they aren’t properly cleaned or processed.
    • They might be poorer-quality than natural alternatives if they’re not procured from a trusted supplier like Storefield Aggregates.

    Pros and Cons of Natural Aggregate

    Benefits of Using Natural Aggregate

    • With natural aggregates, you’ll get access to more extensive colour options and grade qualities.
    •  These aggregates can be used across a wide range of applications, from concrete mixing to construction and decorative landscaping.
    • Natural aggregates are extremely strong and durable.

    Drawbacks of Using Natural Aggregate

    • Virgin aggregates are expensive because the extraction process is sophisticated and time-consuming, processing takes time, and they often need to be transported from far-off locations.
    • Quarrying natural aggregates has a high environmental impact as the extraction process can disrupt natural habitats, lead to pollution, and deplete natural resources.
    • The process of quarrying and mining is dangerous.
      Producing natural aggregates requires a lot of energy.

    Summary of Differences Between Natural Aggregate and Recycled Aggregate

    Now you know their pros and cons, you might be wondering about whether natural aggregates or recycled aggregates are the right option for you.

    Recycled aggregates have gained a lot of popularity in the past few years in response to the introduction of stricter environmental laws and the UK population’s growing eco-conscious mindset. 

    The difference between natural aggregate and recycled aggregate is slowly blurring. Our aggregate recycling facility produces 200,000 tonnes of high-quality gravel, sub-base and sand. The recycled gravel and natural gravel are matched in quality and durability, yet recycled aggregate is more sustainable and affordable.

    The idea that recycled aggregates are of inferior quality is no longer true. With the advancement of techniques, the performance standards of green aggregates are now not only matching but slowly surpassing their natural counterparts. 

    Using cost-effective, eco-friendly, versatile, and consistently available sustainable aggregates is a forward-thinking and future-proof choice.

    Contact Storefield To Procure Bulk Bags of Top-Quality Quarried and Recycled Aggregate

    Storefield Aggregates supplies both quarried and recycled aggregates. If you want to know more about the difference between natural aggregate and recycled aggregate, we can talk you through our offerings in more detail.

    Based in Northamptonshire, we’ve been supplying aggregates for the past thirty years. Our services also include bulk waste removal, as well as construction machinery and equipment hire. 

    Contact us with your requirements today at 01536 418121 or email our sales team at info@storefield.co.uk.

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