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Why Some Demolition Waste Can Be Recycled and Some Cannot
At a Glance
Demolition waste can follow different routes depending on its composition, classification and suitability for processing. Concrete, bricks and tarmac can often be crushed into recycled aggregates, while unsuitable or contaminated materials require appropriate disposal. Assessment, testing and classification help determine the correct route and support the recovery and reuse of suitable construction materials.
Contact Storefield Aggregates to discuss your demolition waste management requirements today.
What Happens to Demolition Waste After It Leaves the Site?
When a building is demolished, the materials left behind do not all follow the same route. Concrete, bricks and tarmac can often be crushed and processed into materials for further construction work, while mixed or unsuitable waste may need a different management route.
So, what happens to demolition waste once it leaves a construction site? The answer depends on what the waste contains, how it has been classified and whether it can be processed into a useful material. Concrete, bricks, tarmac, excavated soil and other materials may look like one pile of rubble, but each can have different requirements for testing, processing and reuse.
This matters when dealing with construction and demolition waste, as you must classify the material before deciding its next route. Suitable materials can sometimes be recovered and processed into aggregates, reducing the amount of usable material that is lost from the construction cycle. But what actually counts as demolition waste and which materials can be recycled?
The first step is to look at what comes off the site and assess the material before deciding where it should go next. At Storefield Aggregates, we help by receiving, testing, processing and recycling suitable construction and demolition waste, enabling useful materials to return to construction.
What Counts as Demolition Waste on a Construction Site?
Demolition waste can include almost anything removed from a building, structure, road or other construction area. The key is to identify the material before deciding what happens next.
Concrete, bricks and tarmac are common examples, but demolition waste can also include excavated soils and hardcore materials from utility works that form part of a construction and demolition waste stream.
At our Telford Way Recycling Centre in Kettering, we accept waste soils, concrete, tarmac, bricks, road sweepings and mixed utility waste and process them into recycled aggregates, including Type 1 sub-base, drainage pipe bedding and sands. The centre is capable of producing up to 200,000 tonnes of sand, gravel and sub-base each year.
Our trained staff classify waste and carry out on-site testing where required, helping establish a suitable route for the material. This initial assessment helps answer what happens to demolition waste after it leaves the site and how demolition waste is disposed of. It also helps contractors avoid sending potentially useful materials down an unsuitable route.
Which Demolition Materials Can Be Recycled Into Aggregates?
Not all demolition materials have the same recycling potential, but suitable mineral materials can be crushed, screened and processed into recycled aggregates or granular materials for reuse.
Concrete is particularly useful because it can be crushed and graded into aggregate. Bricks and old tarmac can also form part of the recycled materials, but the exact outcome depends on the material received and the required specification.
Recycling gives construction and demolition waste a practical second route, so that not every load leaving a project ends up in landfill. Some material can become part of another construction application, such as Type 1 recycled aggregate, used as a solid base before concreting, tarmacking or block paving.
Storefield Aggregates also supplies 10mm and 20mm recycled pipe bedding for drainage work and 6F2 crushed hardcore for making up levels before sub-base installation. These products show how suitable demolition materials can be processed for future construction applications, which is an important part of understanding what happens to demolition waste.
Why Concrete, Brick and Rubble Are Easier to Recycle Than Other Materials
Concrete and similar mineral materials have a clear advantage, as they can be crushed into smaller particles and used as aggregate or granular fill. Their suitability still depends on factors such as composition, contamination and the required specification. The resulting product must be processed and graded appropriately for its intended application.
At Storefield Aggregates, we reduce large pieces of demolition waste into graded aggregate for reuse. So if you are wondering why concrete can’t be recycled, the short answer is that most of it can.
The exception is concrete waste that is unsuitable for processing. Sometimes concrete may be contaminated, mixed with unsuitable materials or fail to meet the requirements for recycled aggregate. The same principle applies to bricks and tarmac, as their value comes from their mineral content and their ability to be processed into useful materials.
Of course, not every load will produce the same recycled product and the condition of the waste can affect the available route, which is why assessment before processing is a must.
What Cannot Be Recycled and Why Does It Still Need Careful Disposal?
Not every material from a demolition project can be turned into aggregate. Some waste streams may contain unsuitable materials, contamination or a mixture that prevents them from being processed as a recycled aggregate.
Common examples include materials containing asbestos, old tarmac containing coal tar and gypsum-based waste such as plasterboard, which must be kept separate from inert waste. This does not mean the material can simply be ignored, because construction and demolition waste still needs to be classified and sent to an appropriate authorised facility.
At Storefield Aggregates, we provide tipping at our licensed waste facilities and can help with waste classification and soil testing. Our bulk waste removal service also covers four options: cart and tip, load cart and tip, grab cart and tip or tipping only. This helps contractors understand what happens to demolition waste and how demolition waste is disposed of when recycling isn't possible.
Arrange Demolition Waste Removal With Storefield Aggregates
Storefield Aggregates’ recycling centre accepts several construction and demolition waste streams, including waste soils, concrete, tarmac and bricks. We can process these materials into recycled aggregate products for future construction use. The process starts with receiving and assessing the material, then crushing and processing suitable demolition waste.
Planning a demolition or construction project? Storefield Aggregates can help with waste removal and the supply of recycled aggregate for your site. Having the right material routes planned from the start can make site work easier to manage and help you make better use of suitable recovered materials.
Contact Storefield Aggregates on 01536 418121 or email orders@storefield.co.uk to discuss your demolition waste or recycled aggregate requirements.
