Futureproofing with Concrete and Brick Recycling

A1 Concrete Recyclers Take Care of Concrete Rubble Removal, Recycling and Manufacturing New Materials

At A1 Concrete Recyclers, we see our mission as having two distinct parts:

• Quality service and products
• Protecting Sydney and Australia’s natural resources and landscape.

Our business model works hand-in-hand with clients, the community and the environment.

Win-Win

No matter why someone opts for concrete and brick recycling over virgin quarried products, we all win.

• Sites that collect the materials to be recycled avoid dumping fees. Concrete rubble removal can also be organised making site clean-up even easier.
• The purchaser gets a quality product at a lower rate than virgin products.
• The environment is protected.
• A1 Concrete Recyclers gets to keep on doing what they do best.
• A1 Concrete Recyclers are proud to uphold the POEO (Waste) Regulation 2014⁽¹⁾ and welcome further roll-outs that will further future-proof our environment and our communities.

Waste Hierarchy

According to the national waste hierarchy, if waste can’t be avoided, it should be re-used. Failing that, it should be re-processed or recycled.

That is where A1 Concrete Recyclers come in. Concrete and brick recycling prevents materials from having to be treated in a waste facility and then costly disposal (landfill).⁽²⁾

In 2016, Australia generated 64 million tonnes of waste with no signs of slowing!⁽²⁾ One third comes from the construction industry – of which three quarters is suitable for concrete and brick recycling.⁽³⁾

That equates to approximately 15 mega tonnes of recyclable concrete and brick.

Also in 2016, SA recovered just under 80% of their waste while NSW recovered 65%.⁽²⁾ We still have some way to go.

A1 Concrete Recyclers are committed to doing their part.

Benefits of Recycling

Economic savings and economic growth.
The contribution to the economy from the waste, resource recovery and recycling industry is in excess of $50 billion per year.⁽²⁾

Preserving Natural Resources
Australia’s natural resources and landscape are invaluable. While we have quality alternatives, why wouldn’t we opt for protecting them?

Reducing Carbon Footprint
For project developers and architects, every material contributes to their building’s green rating. Using recycled products reduces their carbon footprint and the building’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, concrete blocks are excellent insulators.

Reduce Landfill
Not only is reducing landfill important for the here and now, it is also important for the future. Even after landfill sites are full and closed, they continue to leach gases into the soil and air.⁽²⁾

Reduces Pollution & Green-house gases
The pollution and green house gases produced from virgin products is much higher to recycling existing products.

How does the community benefit?

Concrete and brick recycling can divert millions of tonnes of recyclable material away from landfill. This means less land is claimed for landfill and the risk of land pollution impacting our homes and farmland are avoided. The waste, resource recovery and recycling industry already employs approximately 50,000 people.⁽²⁾ With demand for materials on the rise, this is sure to increase.

Recycling Process

Step 1                        Pulverize material to reduce the initial product size;
Step 2                        Crush to specific sizing;
Step 3                        Material passes under belt magnet to remove any metal contamination;
Step 4                        Screen processed material to specific sizes;

Uses of Recycled Material

Recycled Road Base & Aggregates provide an environmentally sustainable and economical solution for minimising the use of virgin quarried materials.

Road Base         Sub-base under paving or concrete
Aggregates        Behind Retaining Walls
Drainage            Site Access Material

Recycle More & Waste Less

• https://businessrecycling.com.au/recycle/concrete
• https://info.junk-king.com/5-benefits-of-concrete-recycling
• https://new.gbca.org.au/
• https://www.austrade.gov.au/International/Buy/Australian-industry-capabilities/Green-Building

References

1. Environment Protection Authority NSW. Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2014: Environment Protection Authority NSW; 2019 [updated 21 Dec 2018. Available from: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/waste/waste-overview/waste-regulations/poeo-waste-reg-2014 • Skip Bin Hire transport rubbish.com.au
2. Environment and Communications References Committee. Never Waste a Crisis: The Waste and Recycling Industry in Australia [report]: Commonwealth of Australia; 2018. Available from: www.aph.gov.au/WasteandRecycling •  Concrete Recycling using Skip Bin Hire in Bankstown
3. Planet Ark. Construction and Demolition 2019 [Available from: https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/demolition/CampbelltownNSW. • Recycling using Penrith skip bin hire