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    • 4 Benefits of Using Recycled Aggregates in Construction

    Every construction site has two things in common - construction waste and aggregates. Aggregates are an extremely vital component in civil engineering projects, whether for drainage, protecting pipes, or even making concrete or asphalt for surface dressing. If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and sustainably utilise resources, using recycled aggregate products might be the best solution. Similarly, proper construction waste disposal and management are integral to your project’s success and the reduction of overall environmental pollution.

    In 2021, Great Britain used 18.3 million tonnes of primary aggregates, quarried crushed rocks and sea-dredged gravel and sand. Today, the use of recycled aggregates in construction is gaining popularity. If you’re also looking to use type 1 recycled aggregate for your next construction project, Storefield can help.

    At Storefield Aggregates, we offer an extensive range of both quarried and recycled aggregate products. We’re among the largest aggregate recycling facilities in the UK, capable of producing 200,000 tonnes of high-quality sand, gravel and sub-base. 

    In this blog, we’ll discover the advantages of using recycled aggregates on a construction site. Let’s get started.

    What are Recycled Aggregates?

    Recycled aggregates are obtained from construction, demolition and excavation waste (CDEW). Any usable inert CDEW materials are repurposed or recycled for use in the construction industry. 

    The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has revealed that the total volume of secondary and recycled aggregate products reached 73.5 million tonnes in 2022, much higher than in other European countries. Of this, 60.3 million tonnes came from CDEW, which includes bricks, old rail ballast, concrete and soil.

    Previously, all the CDEW would end up in landfill sites; nowadays, the waste is taken to a recycling facility to be crushed, segregated, washed, screened and blended to create recycled aggregate products. 

    Some popular recycled aggregate products are:

    • Gravel
    • Sand
    • Crushed stone
    • Asphalt
    • Recycled concrete

    There are multiple uses and benefits of recycled aggregate. Let’s take a look.

    4 Benefits of Recycled Aggregates in Construction

    1. Sustainability

    In 2018, the UK produced 222.2 million tonnes of construction waste, of which 62% was from CDEW. If you’re a property developer, owner or construction manager looking to protect and preserve the environment, you can use recycled materials on your site. Sustainability is one of the main benefits experienced when making use of recycled aggregates in construction. 

    Using primary aggregates means chipping away at natural reserves, and a huge amount of pollution is generated during the blasting process. These materials then need to be processed and transported across the length of the country, which leads to extensive amounts of pollution.

    With recycling, material that would previously be dumped into the landfill is repurposed into usable materials. The aggregate recycling facility is mostly locally situated and reduces the need for extensive transportation. Additionally, recycling doesn’t produce pollutants, unlike natural quarrying.

    2. Cost-saving

    One primary reason recycled aggregate products have become popular is because they’re affordable. They’re much cheaper than natural aggregates, which often need to be transported long distances from the site of origin. You need to add the cost of transportation to the cost of aggregate, making it expensive.

    Recycled aggregates are locally sourced, making them more economical, as you can save on transportation costs. Some contractors choose to reuse leftover materials from their previous projects, saving even more significant sums. Additionally, you save on landfill tax as well. 

    3. Durable

    Despite being recycled, type 1 recycled aggregate is durable and long-lasting. These recycled aggregate products don’t compromise on quality and have robust structures. When mixed with concrete or cement, the durability of the aggregate increases manifold. 

    At Storefield Aggregates, our state-of-the-art aggregate recycling facility produces high-quality products, including all grades of sand and gravel, topsoil, and more.

    4. Versatile Usage

    There are multiple uses of recycled aggregates in construction, including in general construction, backfilling trenches, pavements, landscaping, asphalt surfacing, concrete manufacturing, landscaping, noise barriers, and more. 

    Anywhere you use primary aggregate, you can swap it with recycled aggregate. The versatility and flexibility of recycled aggregate products make them both economical and valuable in the construction industry.

    Choose Storefield for Top-Quality Recycled Aggregates

    At Storefield Aggregates, we supply both quarried and recycled aggregate products. Our services also include bulk waste removal, where we will safely collect, transport, and dispose of CDEW. We operate an aggregate recycling facility at Telford Way, where we reprocess construction and demolition waste into quality aggregates for reuse. We also have a new facility in Sixfields.

    From waste removal to recycling, our services help construction projects reduce their carbon footprint and associated costs.

    Storefield’s team of experts can help you with tailored services that meet your specific needs. 

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

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