As awareness
of our impact on the planet increases, more and more producers and consumers
are looking for eco-friendly solutions for their construction projects.
Choosing to use materials from sustainable sources is extremely beneficial to
the environment, and is increasingly becoming the way forward.
Whether
you’re building a brand new home or working on a whole housing development,
paying attention to what you use as building materials is extremely important.
Recycled aggregate can be used in a number of different projects, from houses
and driveways to children's playgrounds and roads. If you have ever wondered
what happens to all of the leftover concrete once a building has been
demolished, the answer you are looking for is recycled aggregate. Below, we
take a look at what recycled aggregates are and the benefits of using them in
your construction projects.
What are recycled aggregates?
Aggregates
are a granular material used in construction. This includes materials such as
concrete, gravel, stone, sand and bricks. When buildings are demolished, we
used to send leftover aggregate to landfill, however, with our growing
responsibility to sustain our existing environment today, we now recycle
aggregates instead. Recycled aggregates are made up of crushed asphalt or
concrete from old construction debris that we reuse for other building
projects. Materials are reprocessed by mixing, crushing or grading aggregate to
meet required specifications, and are most commonly used for cement concrete,
road base or other infrastructure projects.
When you
purchase recycled aggregates, as an individual or a business, you are helping
the environment - something that is very important today. Using recycled
aggregates helps to conserve quarried aggregates for future generations whilst
also ensuring that useful aggregates are not unnecessarily disposed of in
landfills. As you may be aware, we are slowly running out of space for
landfills on our planet which is why it is absolutely essential that we recycle
where possible.
Concrete is
a strong, durable and long-lasting material - however, once it has been crushed
up and recycled, is it as effective? The simple answer to this is: yes. If you
choose to buy your recycled aggregate from a reliable company, such as William
Thompson & Son, you can rest assured that the recycled aggregate will be
just as effective as pouring fresh concrete.
The benefits of recycled aggregates such as
sand
There are
lots of environmental and economic benefits to using recycled aggregates for
construction projects. In fact, recycled aggregates provide many advantages in
the world of construction. Below, we take a look at how you can benefit from
recycled aggregates.
Eco-friendly (and the conservation of quarries)
As briefly
discussed above, using recycled aggregate is an eco-friendly option and doing
so will help you to reduce your carbon footprint. Recycled aggregate is
regarded as a ‘green’ construction material and is particularly popular because
of its sustainability.
Harvesting
stone in its natural state drains our resources and produces harmful pollutants
as a by-product. Choosing to use recycled aggregates for your construction
project reduces the demand for virgin aggregates and helps to preserve our
natural resources, as well as reducing transport emissions. When you purchase
recycled aggregates, no natural materials are harvested in the process, meaning
our quarries are conserved for future generations.
Cost-effective
Recycled
aggregates are less expensive to produce, and therefore you can easily save
money when you purchase recycled aggregates over virgin materials. Today, the
quality of recycled products are better than ever, so you don’t have to worry
about compromising on quality when you choose the cheaper, recycled option.
With the costs of quarried aggregates rising, using a recycled product can be
far cheaper. If you are building a home, paving a driveway or constructing a
playground and use concrete, it can be very expensive, whereas recycled
aggregates are the cheaper option.
While recycled
aggregates do still have to be processed through advanced screening facilities
and washing plants, the overall cost of producing recycled aggregate is
dramatically decreased. This is because the entire quarrying process is
eliminated and transportation is reduced.
Durable
Recycled
aggregate is as durable and structurally reliable as natural aggregate. Many
people worry that, when they purchase recycled aggregate, it will not be as
strong or long-lasting as concrete. This, however, is not true; recycled
aggregate is just as effective as quarried aggregate and is also just as safe
to use.
Recycled
aggregates have a long and sturdy lifespan. The end product is always strong,
as it has been carefully sorted to ensure that it is able to withstand the test
of time, along with all weather conditions. You can happily do your part to
help the environment while taking advantage of the lower costs and high
durability.
Versatile
Recycled
aggregates can be used for a large range of applications and a number of
different functions, from simple home refurbishments right through to roads,
earthwork and general construction. Perhaps you are adding a brand new driveway
to your property, or you are creating a whole new extension to your house. The
flexibility of recycled aggregate means that it can be used for a variety of
different projects.
Recycled concrete aggregate uses
Below we
take a look at a few different ways you can make use of, more specifically,
recycled concrete aggregates. Some common uses of recycled concrete aggregate
include:
● General construction:
laying down recycled concrete aggregate at the entrance of a
construction site can stop the tracking of mud.
● Residential base:
when installing a patio, walkway or driveway, a layer of reliable mase
material should first be laid down. Recycled concrete aggregate is a fantastic
option for this due to its affordability and durability.
● Commercial base:
when installing a commercial road or car park, it is essential that a
sturdy base layer is first laid down as they experience a lot of traffic.
Recycled concrete aggregate is ideal for this due to, once again, its
durability and affordability.
William Thompson & Son: recycled aggregates
and landfill disposal services
With over 70
years of experience in providing quarrying services to a range of clients
across Scotland, William Thompson & Son are dedicated to providing
individuals and businesses with the highest quality of construction aggregate
products. Whether you are planning a small residential project or a major
construction project, our experienced team of experts will work closely with
you to tailor solutions to your needs.
At William
Thompson & Son, sustainability is at the forefront of our business ethos.
We always strive to ensure that every small aspect of our operation is as
environmentally friendly as possible. The aggregate that we supply has been
through rigorous quality control procedures to ensure that the final product
you receive meets the highest standards.
We believe
that all individuals and businesses should do their bit for the environment and
try to reduce their carbon footprint wherever possible, which is why we
encourage all businesses to take advantage of our recycled aggregate products
for your next construction project.
We also have
a range of other services on offer, including quarry products, landfill,
concrete, plant hire and haulage. At William Thompson & Son, we pride
ourselves on our excellent customer service and outstanding reputation. For
more information about our services, visit
our website
or get
in touch
today.
