Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA)

Definition
Recycled concrete aggregate is aggregate resulting from the processing of inorganic material previously used in construction
and principally comprising crushed concrete [BS 8500-1: 2002].

Use
Based upon the Specification for Highway Works [MCHW Volume 1] and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges [HD 35/04],
Recycled concrete aggregates can be used in:
Bitumen bound materials – Recycled concrete aggregate can be used may be used in a variety of base course and
binder course mixtures.
Concrete – Recycled concrete aggregate is permitted for use in certain grades of concrete.
Pipe bedding – suitably graded Recycled concrete aggregate is used in pipe bedding.
Hydraulically bound mixtures (HBM) for subbase and base – Recycled concrete aggregate can be suitable for use in
HBMs.
Unbound mixtures for subbase – suitably graded Recycled concrete aggregate is used as subbase.
Capping – Recycled concrete aggregate is suitable for capping applications.
Embankments and Fill – suitably graded Recycled concrete aggregate is used in these applications.

Reference should be made to the WRAP protocols on the production of recycled aggregates from inert waste [WRAP, 2004 and
2005].

Relevant material and location

Recycled concrete aggregate from demolition of roads and runways (pavements) and buildings; available nationally in England,
Wales and Scotland.

Tonnages in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland)

Arisings: estimated between 7 and 14 Mt in 1998
Relevant portion suitable for aggregate use: 1.1 Mt in 1998. 24.03 Mt of Graded recycled aggregates were produced in
England, a proportion of which will be recycled concrete aggregate
Aggregate use: 1.15 Mt in 1998
Non-aggregate use: 2.95 Mt in 1998
Existing usable stockpiles: Not known

Explanatory comments
Data sourced from BigREc Survey [1998], ODPM[2002] and Winter et al [2001].

Arisings
Recycled concrete aggregate can be purchased from demolition sites or from suitably equipped processing centres. Where
suitable reprocessing facilities are available and due to the volume of concrete in the roads, runways and buildings being

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demolished, there is often a large batch of Recycled concrete aggregate available.

There are over 80 suppliers of recycled aggregates for concrete and 40 suppliers of recycled aggregates for asphalt, in England
and Scotland, listed on the AggRegain Supplier Directory. This will include a proportion supplying high quality Recycled concrete
aggregate.

Stockpiles
Located nationally from pavement or building demolition and maintenance projects. However, no reliable quantitative
estimates for stockpiles are available.

Trends in aggregate use

In Egland, the production of Recycled aggregates has increased by 3.1% since 2003, and 3.7% since 2001. This will include a
proportion of Recycled concrete aggregate.

Future potential
WRAP'S 2006-2008 business plan includes the target that 1.7 million tonnes of material to be diverted from landfill or avoided
from being extracted from primary resources [WRAP, 2006]. This will continue to support the increased production and use of
Recycled concrete aggregate in high value applications.

References:

British Standards Institution, (2002). BS 8500-1: 2002, Concrete – complimentary British Standard to BS EN 206 1, BSI,
London.

Department for Communities and Local Government, (2007). Survey of Arisings and Use of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates
in England, 2005 - Construction, Demolition and Excavation Waste, DLCG, London. Available from the DCLG Website.

Coventry, S., Woolveridge, C. and Hiller, S., (1999). The reclaimed and recycled construction materials handbook, CIRIA C513,
London.

BigREc Survey, (1998). Available at URLs: http://old.salvoweb.com/articles/bigrec.html and http://old.salvoweb.com/articles/bigrec-table.h

http://old.salvoweb.com/articles/bigrec-table.html

Highways Agency, Welsh Assembly, Scottish Executive and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. Design
Manual for Roads and Bridges: Volume 7, Section 1, Part 2, HD 35/04 Conservation and use of secondary and recycled
materials. The Stationery Office, London.

Highways Agency, Welsh Assembly, Scottish Executive and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. Manual of
Contract Documents for Highway Works: Volume 1, Specification for Highway Works. The Stationery Office, London.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now the Department for Communities and Local Government), (2002). Survey of arisings
and use secondary materials as aggregates in England and Wales 2001, ODPM, London. Available from the DCLG Website
WRAP, (2004 and 2005). The quality protocols for the production of aggregates from inert waste in England, Scotland and

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WRAP, The Old Academy, 21 Horse Fair, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0AH
WRAP Freephone Helpline: 0808 100 2040
Northern Ireland, WRAP, Banbury. Available from the AggRegain Quality Module.

WRAP, (2006). Business plan 2006-2008, WRAP, Banbury. Available from the WRAP Website
Winter, M. G. and Henderson, C., (2001). Recycled aggregates in Scotland, Scottish Executive Central Research Unit,
Edinburgh. Available at URL.

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WRAP, The Old Academy, 21 Horse Fair, Banbury, Oxon OX16 0AH
WRAP Freephone Helpline: 0808 100 2040