How do you recycle concrete? Or is there any machines available?

Question

I am doing a research on reducing the amount of waste contrubing to the environment.

Answer 1

Some of your local land contractors may have plants that recycle the used concrete. In my experience quite a bit of old concrete gets recycled as well as other items in buildings that are about to be torn down. There are companies that go in and strip the building before the demolition and resells the items, (windows, ceiling tiles, doors, molding etc...)

Answer 2

In chicago on route 55 you can see one from the road.. perhaps if you write the city of chicago they can give you more info on the machine and where the concrete comes from, how the recycled concrete is used, and the success of this program,,,,,,,

Answer 3

no idea...

Answer 4

Reusing it is easier; use the chunks to make a "rock" wall or as fill or something.   There is a place near where I work that recycles concrete.   They have a machine that crushes it up into gravel sized pieces which is used to make more concrete.

Answer 5

I work for a concrete testing company which, in part, ensures that the concrete specifications are met during the construction of commercial buildings (usually as a representative of the owner or architect).  We cast molds of concrete and then break them to determine their strength.  We end up with a lot of broken concrete (as well as unbroken concrete cylinders, 12" long by 6" diameter and 8" long by 4" diameter).

We have the concrete picked up and shipped to a facility that breaks up the concrete into managable pieces for use as aggregate admixture in asphalt pavement.  It can be used for other things as well. I'm not sure of the name of the business that hauls it off or crushes it.

Incidentally, the cylinders are great for making small retaining walls when stacked horizontally.  They don't make turns too well, but they easily make straight runs. They also drain water through the interstitial space making them ideal for small garden or landscaping projects.

Answer 6

Yes they do have mobile and portable concrete crushing machines.  For more information try http://www.universalwrecking.com