In Germany, recycled concrete (R-concrete) is still being produced only to a small extent for load-bearing components, although normative foundations exist, and ecological incentives are given. Concrete precast plants have not yet adapted their product range to this portfolio. Accordingly, this article provides an overview of the challenges faced by precast plants in the implementation of R-concrete and describes how recycled concrete can make use of loadbearing prefabricated concrete elements. Read More
The SeRaMCo project aims to promote the recycling of demolition by-products in new concrete. While the reuse of these aggregates is obviously beneficial to the environment, because it prevents the use of new resources, it is more difficult to compare the CO2 emissions of the recycling process to the quarry extraction process. Hence our role in the SeRaMCo project: to evaluate the environmental impact of concrete recycling with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Read More
One of the goals of the SeRaMCo project is to improve the sustainability of the concrete industry. One possible avenue to reach this goal is the use of recycled aggregates obtained from Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW). They are obtained by crushing suitable CDW such as concrete, bricks, tiles, ceramics, natural stones. However, the crushed material still contains unwanted elements such as rebars coming from reinforced concrete, plastics, woods, and paper. Read More
In the scope of SeRaMCo, Tradecowall is in charge of developing technologies for the recycling of mixed construction and demolition waste. Following our tests in 2018, we are proud to announce that we now master the key processes of water clarification and sludge management! Read More
The University of Luxembourg is actively working to design a new mixture for precast elements which involve a total/partial substitution of secondary raw materials. The recycled material is supplied by Contern and is sourced from the crushing of unused drainage pipes. Read More
One of the aims of the SeRaMCo project is the development of concrete mixes for the production of non-structural elements, in particular the production of paving blocks. Furthermore, the Institute for Construction Material Technology of the University Kaiserslautern, as one of the involved partners, tries to develop concrete mixes for rammed concrete. Read More
SeRaMCo will showcase the use of secondary aggregate in concrete and the fact that it does not have to be as complicated as sometimes assumed. During the MAKING workshops at TU Delft, the great architectural potential of CDW (Construction and Demolition Waste) in precast concrete is an ongoing topic of investigation. Students look for the added value of CDW in concrete ranging from béton brut, exposed concrete and rammed recycled aggregate, by making objects with added properties. Read More
The German precast producer Beton-Betz has been working for the last 1.5 years in the EU INTERREG project SeRaMCo. The company’s role is mainly to contribute to new raw material compositions and precast elements. Beton-Betz is supported by several universities who research on the characteristics of recycling concrete in their laboratories. During the past months Beton-Betz has gathered practical know-how in using recycled concrete waste. Read More
An important step towards a sustainable development in the concrete industry and management of construction waste is to use recycled aggregates (RA) as a viable alternative to the natural one. However, how to formulate and optimize the concrete mixture made of recycled aggregates at an acceptable price and quality is still a question mark. The major difficulty is due to the variability of the aggregate properties, and the lack of a robust methodology able to accurately evaluate the mechanical performance of the recycled concrete. Read More
