REVOLUTIONIZING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION THROUGH RECYCLED CONCRETE AGGREGATE PRODUCTION: A SYSTEMIC REVIEW OF CODES, STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33736/jcest.6847.2025Keywords:
recycled concrete aggregate, construction and demolition, standard, parent concrete, adaptationAbstract
The significant rise in the production of construction and demolition (C&D) waste has increased dramatically in recent years, resulting in the entry of tons of concrete waste into the environment. Recycling and reusing C&D waste as a partial replacement for aggregate in building construction is practiced in other nations as a possible solution and waste management. However, few studies have identified how C&D waste can be utilized in the Ethiopian Construction Industry (ECI). In addition, the application of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in Ethiopia is limited owing to a lack of well-established standards and guidelines. Thus, the focus of this research is to investigate the opportunities and limitations of recycled concrete building materials based on legal design codes, standards, and government guidelines for utilizing recycled concrete waste as aggregates. This study systematically reviewed existing norms and standards for the potential use of recycled concrete aggregates and identified opportunities and limitations by incorporating them into current design and construction practices. This study evaluates the current state and utilization practices of RCA in economically comparable developing countries, drawing comparisons with Ethiopia. The findings revealed inconsistencies in the national standards concerning the permissible substitution of natural aggregates with recycled alternatives. Furthermore, the existing standards lack crucial parameters, such as the precise influence of the source concrete grade on the recycled material properties and the impact of service life on its characteristics. To address these shortcomings, it is essential to develop local design codes, laws, and standards, specifically for RCA in developing countries. Such measures will bolster stakeholder confidence in the sector’s applicability, utilization, commercialization, and promotion of this sustainable material. This study is expected to contribute to the standardization of recycled concrete in Ethiopia and similar developing countries where such guidelines or standards do not exist.
References
Ittyeipe, A. V., Thomas, A. V., & Ramaswamy, K. P. (2020). Comparison of the energy consumption in the production of natural and recycled concrete aggregate: A case study in Kerala, India. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 989(1), 012011. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/989/1/012011
Villoria-Sáez, P., Porras-Amores, C., & del Río Merino, M. (2020). Estimation of construction and demolition waste. In Y. Ding, F. Colangelo, R. Tuladhar, & A. Koutamanis (Eds.), Advances in Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling: Management, Processing and Environmental Assessment (pp. 13–30). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819055-5.00002-4
Kaarthik, M., & Maruthachalam, D. (2020). A sustainable approach of characteristic strength of concrete using recycled fine aggregate. Materials Today: Proceedings, 45, 6377–6380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.11.058
Wang, B., Yan, L., Fu, Q., & Kasal, B. (2021). A Comprehensive Review on Recycled Aggregate and Recycled Aggregate Concrete. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 171, 105565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105565
Aboginije, A., Aigbavboa, C., Thwala, W., & Samuel, S. (2020). Determining the impact of construction and demolition waste reduction practices on green building projects in Gauteng Province, South Africa. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (Vol. 0, pp. 2428–2437). Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Determining-the-Impact-of-Construction-and-Waste-on-Aboginije-Aigbavboa/c2db8da8917527d394985bca548e1902e29a9e9e;
Liang, Z., Hu, Z., Zhou, Y., Wu, Y., Zhou, X., Hu, B., & Guo, M. (2022). Improving recycled aggregate concrete by compression casting and nano-silica. Nanotechnology Reviews, 11(1), 1273–1290. https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2022-0065
Hossain, M. U., Poon, C. S., Lo, I. M. C., & Cheng, J. C. P. (2016). Comparative environmental evaluation of aggregate production from recycled waste materials and virgin sources by LCA. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 109, 67–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.02.009
Sajan, K. C., Adhikari, R., Mandal, B., & Gautam, D. (2022). Mechanical characterization of recycled concrete under various aggregate replacement scenarios. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 7, 100428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2022.100428
Yehualaw, M. D., & Woldesenbet, A. K. (2016). Economic Impacts of Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Developing Nations: A Case Study in the Ethiopian Construction Industry. In Construction Research Congress 2016: Old and New Construction Technologies Converge in Historic San Juan - Proceedings of the 2016 Construction Research Congress, CRC 2016 (pp. 250–259). Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784479827.026
Poon, C. S., Yu, A. T. W., & Ng, L. H. (2001). On-site sorting of construction and demolition waste in Hong Kong. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 32(2), 157–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-3449(01)00052-0
Eurostat. (2017). Waste. Stat It’s Interface Europe. Retrieved from https://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu
EAA. (2018). A sustainable industry for a sustainable Europe annual review 2016-2017. European Aggregates Association, 32.
Commission, E. (2008). Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives. Official Journal of European Union, L312, 1–59. Retrieved from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:312:0003:01:ES:HTML
Guo, H., Shi, C., Guan, X., Zhu, J., Ding, Y., Ling, T. C., Zhang, H., & Wang, Y. (2018). Durability of recycled aggregate concrete – A review. Cement and Concrete Composites, 89, 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2018.03.008
Liang, C., Pan, B., Ma, Z., He, Z., & Duan, Z. (2020). Utilization of CO2 curing to enhance the properties of recycled aggregate and prepared concrete: A review. Cement and Concrete Composites, 105, 103446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.103446
Liang, C., Cai, Z., Wu, H., Xiao, J., Zhang, Y., & Ma, Z. (2021). Chloride transport and induced steel corrosion in recycled aggregate concrete: A review. Construction and Building Materials, 282, 122547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122547
Silva, R. V., de Brito, J., & Dhir, R. K. (2018). Fresh-state performance of recycled aggregate concrete: A review. Construction and Building Materials, 178, 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.05.149
Tam, V. W. Y., Wattage, H., Le, K. N., Buteraa, A., & Soomro, M. (2021). Methods to improve microstructural properties of recycled concrete aggregate: A critical review. Construction and Building Materials, 270, 121490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121490
Thomas, J., Thaickavil, N. N., & Wilson, P. M. (2018). Strength and durability of concrete containing recycled concrete aggregates. Journal of Building Engineering, 19, 349–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.05.007
Verian, K. P., Ashraf, W., & Cao, Y. (2018). Properties of recycled concrete aggregate and their influence in new concrete production. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 133, 30–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.02.005
Scientific, C. (1998). Guidance on the preparation of non-structural concrete made from recycled concrete aggregate. Commonwealth of Australia;p., 1998.
PTV-406. (2003). Recycled aggregates from construction and demolition wastes (in French). Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, 16.
NBR-15116. (2004). Recycled aggregate of solid residue of building constructions – Requirements and methodologies. Brazilian Association for Technical Norms (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas – ABNT), 12.
DG/TJ. (2008). Technical Code for Application of Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Shangai Construction Standard Society (SCSS). Shanghai: Shanghai Construction Standard Society.
Standard, D. (2011). Concrete – Materials – Rules for application of EN 206-1 in Denmark. Danish Standards Foundation (DS). Denmark.
(DIN), D. I. für N. (2017). DIN-4226-101. Recycled aggregates for concrete in accordance with DIN EN 12620 - Part 101: Types and regulated dangerous substances. Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, (August), 11 p.
WBTC. (2002). Specifications Facilitating the Use of Recycled Aggregates. Works Bureau Technical Circular, (27 march), 16.
Association, J. S. (2005). Recycled aggregate for concrete-class H. Japanese Standards Association, Tokyo, 30.
LNEC-E471. (2006). Guide for the use of coarse recycled aggregates in concrete (in Portuguese). Portuguese Republic, 6.
EHE-08. (2010). Code on Structural Concrete. Spain: Centro de Publicaciones, Secretaría General Técnica, Ministerio de Fomento, Act 1247/2, 556.
Arbeitsgruppe Recyclingbeton der kommission SIA 262. (2010). Recyclingbeton. Zurich: SIA.
BS 8500-2:2002. (2002). Complementary British Standard to BS EN 206-1. Specification for constituent materials and concrete (AMD 14640). British Standards Institution, 48.
Building Research Establishment. (1998). Recycled aggregates. BRE. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
RILEM. (1994). Specifications for concrete with recycled aggregates. Materials and Structures, 27(9), 557–559. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02473217
CUR. (1986). Concrete debris and masonry rubble granulates as aggregate material for concrete (`Betonpuingranulaaten Metselwerkpuins Granullat alls Toeslagmeterial van Beton’ in Dutch). Cur (Vol. 125). Dutch.
RNSI N - 590. (2005). Dutch supplement to NEN-EN 12620 Aggregates for concrete. p., 2010.
Norwegian Concrete Association. (n.d.). Recycling of Material from Concrete and Bricks for Use in Production of Concrete. 26 (26th ed.). Norwegain.
Gonçalves, P., & De Brito, J. (2010). Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) - Comparative analysis of existing specifications. Magazine of Concrete Research, 62(5), 339–346. https://doi.org/10.1680/macr.2008.62.5.339
De Brito, J., Agrela, F., & Silva, R. V. (2018). Legal regulations of recycled aggregate concrete in buildings and roads. In New Trends in Eco-efficient and Recycled Concrete (Vol. 18. Woodhe, pp. 509–526). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102480-5.00018-X
1992-1-1, B. S. E. N. (2004). Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - Part 1-1 : General rules and rules for buildings. British Standards Institution, 1(2004), 230.
Poon, C.-S., & Chan, D. (2007). The use of recycled aggregate in concrete in Hong Kong. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 50(3), 293–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2006.06.005
Federal Republic of Germany. (2010). Guideline for Concrete According to DIN EN 206-1 and DIN 1045-2 with Recycled Aggregates According to DIN EN 12620 (Vol. 206–1 and). Berlin, Germany: DAfStb.
OT-70085. (2006). Use of secondary mineral construction materials in the construction of shelters (in French). Berne, Swiss Confederation, 16.
Martín-Morales, M., Zamorano, M., Valverde-Palacios, I., Cuenca-Moyano, G. M., & Sánchez-Roldán, Z. (2013). Quality control of recycled aggregates (RAs) from construction and demolition waste (CDW). In Handbook of Recycled Concrete and Demolition Waste (pp. 270–303). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857096906.2.270
Asociación Brasilera de normas técnicas. (2004). Recycled aggregates of construction and demolition wastes - Construction of pavement layers - Procedures. ABNT NBR 15115. Federative Republic of Brazil, 10.
JGJ/T-240. (2011). Technical specification for application of recycled aggregate. Chinese Academy of Building Research, 52.
JIS-5308. (n.d.). Ready mixed. Concrete Communication. Japan: Japan Standards Association.
KS-F-2573. (n.d.). Recycled aggregate for concrete. Seoul, Korea: Korean Standards. Korea.
NEN-80051C1:2017. (2017). Dutch supplement to NEN-EN 206: concrete specification, performance, production and conformity. Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut; P., 26.
Kong, T. G. of H. (2013). Construction standard-aggregates for concrete. The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Retrieved from https://www.cedd.gov.hk/filemanager/eng/content_78/cs3_2013_original.pdf
Kawano, H. (2000). Barriers for sustainable use of concrete materials, Concrete technology for a sustainable development in the 21st century. E and F N Spon, 288–293.
de Brito, J., & Silva, R. V. (2016). Current status on the use of recycled aggregates in concrete: Where do we go from here? RILEM Technical Letters, 1, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.21809/rilemtechlett.2016.3
Nagataki, S., Gokce, A., Saeki, T., & Hisada, M. (2004). Assessment of recycling process induced damage sensitivity of recycled concrete aggregates. Cement and Concrete Research, 34(6), 965–971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.11.008
Pedro, D., De Brito, J., & Evangelista, L. (2014). Influence of the use of recycled concrete aggregates from different sources on structural concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 71, 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.08.030
Braga, A. (2015). Comparative Analysis of the Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Recycled Aggregate concrete. Retrieved from https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/cursos/mec/dissertacao/846778572210846
ACI. (2014). 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary. 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary, ) and comm, 314–318. https://doi.org/10.14359/51688187
Silva, R. V., De Brito, J., & Dhir, R. K. (2014). Properties and composition of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste suitable for concrete production. Construction and Building Materials, 65, 201–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.117
Silva, R. V., De Brito, J., & Dhir, R. K. (2015). The influence of the use of recycled aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete: A review. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, 19(7), 825–849. https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2014.974831
Silva, R. V., de Brito, J., & Dhir, R. K. (2015). Tensile strength behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 83, 108–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03.034
Santillán, L. R., Zega, C. J., & Irassar, E. F. (2024). Current Knowledge and Pending Research on Sulfate Resistance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(3), 1310. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031310
Padmini, A. K., Ramamurthy, K., & Mathews, M. S. (2009). Influence of parent concrete on the properties of recycled aggregate concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 23(2), 829–836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2008.03.006
Duan, Z., Han, N., Singh, A., & Xiao, J. (2020). Multi-Scale Investigation on Concrete Prepared with Recycled Aggregates from Different Parent Concrete. Journal of Renewable Materials, 8(11), 1375–1390. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2020.013044
Chakradhara Rao, M. (2018). Properties of recycled aggregate and recycled aggregate concrete: effect of parent concrete. Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 19(1), 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-018-0011-x
Xie, T., Gholampour, A., & Ozbakkaloglu, T. (2018). Toward the Development of Sustainable Concretes with Recycled Concrete Aggregates: Comprehensive Review of Studies on Mechanical Properties. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 30(9). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)mt.1943-5533.0002304
Gebremariam, H. G., Taye, S., & Tarekegn, A. G. (2023). Disparity in research findings on parent concrete strength effects on recycled aggregate quality as a challenge in aggregate recycling. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 19, e02342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e02342
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 UNIMAS Publisher
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Upon acceptance of an article, the corresponding author on behalf of all authors will be asked to complete and upload the Copyright Transfer Form (refer to Copyright Issues for more information on this) alongside the electronic proof file.
Copyright Transfer Statement for Journal
1) In signing this statement, the author(s) grant UNIMAS Publisher an exclusive license to publish their original research papers. The author(s) also grant UNIMAS Publisher permission to reproduce, recreate, translate, extract or summarize, and to distribute and display in any forms, formats, and media. The author(s) can reuse their papers in their future printed work without first requiring permission from UNIMAS Publisher, provided that the author(s) acknowledge and refer the publication in the Journal.
2) For open-access articles, the author(s) agree that their articles published under UNIMAS Publisher are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, for non-commercial purposes, provided the original work of the author(s) is properly cited.
3) For subscription articles, the author(s) agree that UNIMAS Publisher holds the copyright or an exclusive license to publish. Readers or users may view, download, print, and copy the content, for academic purposes, subject to the following conditions of use: (a) any reuse of materials is subjected to permission from UNIMAS Publisher; (b) archived materials may only be used for academic research; (c) archived materials may not be used for commercial purposes, which include but not limited to monetary compensation by means of sale, resale, license, transfer of copyright, loan, etc.; and (d) archived materials may not be re-published in any part, either in print or online.
4) The author(s) are responsible to ensure their submitted work is original and does not infringe any existing copyright, trademark, patent, statutory right, or propriety right of others. The corresponding author has obtained permission from all co-authors prior to submission to the journal. Upon submission of the manuscript, the author(s) agree that no similar work has been or will be submitted or published elsewhere in any language. If the submitted manuscript includes materials from others, the authors have obtained permission from the copyright owners.
5) In signing this statement, the author(s) declare that the researches which they have conducted comply with the current laws of the respective country and UNIMAS Journal Publication Ethics Policy. Any experimentation or research involving humans or the use of animal samples must obtain approval from the Human or Animal Ethics Committee in their respective institutions. The author(s) agree and understand that UNIMAS Publisher is not responsible for any compensational claims or failure caused by the author(s) in fulfilling the above-mentioned requirements. The author(s) must accept the responsibility for releasing their materials upon request by Chief Editor or UNIMAS Publisher.
6) The author(s) should have participated sufficiently in the work and ensured the appropriateness of the content of the article. The author(s) should also agree that they have no commercial attachments (e.g. patent or license arrangement, equity interest, consultancies, etc.) that might pose any conflict of interest with the submitted manuscript. The author(s) also agree to make any relevant materials and data available upon request by the editor(s) or UNIMAS Publisher.
