Concrete Recycling and Utilization of Recycled Concrete: An Investigation of the Barriers and Drivers within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area

Contractors are looking for ways to incorporate sustainable business practices into their daily operations that reduce cost. Diverting waste from the landfill is one way that contractors can reduce the environmental impact of construction. Construction is the largest contributor to landfill waste and concrete accounts for a significant portion of that waste. In turn, concrete waste can easily be recycled and reused as aggregate base course under roadway pavements and building slabs. Using recycled concrete in this manner reduces the environmental impact of construction by diverting waste and limiting the amount of virgin aggregate required for construction. Since aggregate is a finite resource, recycling and using recycled concrete limits the quantity of natural resources needed to support construction activity. This research identified barriers and drivers associated with recycling concrete and using the recycled material in new construction in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Data was collected through interviews with general contractors, demolition contractors, concrete recyclers, and engineers, as well as observation of jobsite activities. The results of this research revealed that the infrastructure for recycling and reusing concrete material is in place but there is a need to establish that recycled concrete is an acceptable material for use as base material in the Phoenix area, and there is a need for education and awareness among the stakeholders. Factors impacting the decision to recycle versus sending concrete debris to a landfill were not cost and proximity as expected but were the result of existing relationships contractors have with disposal locations. The factors impacting whether or not to utilize recycled material were lack of enabling standard specifications, perception of risk, and the regulatory environment of the municipality where the construction takes place.