Recycling options for masonry - identifying sustainable solutions

Almost 15% of the average yearly waste accumulation in Germany originates from construction waste. It mainly comprises mineral materials such as concrete and different types of stonework, like lime-sandstone, red brick, aerated concrete and lightweight concrete. Due to the heterogeneous material composition, this kind of waste often ends up in landfill or can only be used for lower-level recycling. The AiF (German Federation of Industrial Research Association) funded the national research project "Sustainability Analysis for the Recycling of Masonry" in order to show different recycling opportunities for masonry as well as respective required technologies with regard to potential occurring mineral material mixtures. Technologies identified are for example such ones to break masonry into smaller grain sizes and technologies to separate the masonry into single material fractions. Furthermore, the project has the objective to assess the sustainability performance of various recycling options. These options and the related recycling routes are evaluated regarding environmental, economic and social aspects - all three pillars of sustainability - by using the methods of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Working Environment (LCWE). The results are provided within a web-tool for operators of recycling facilities and for demolition companies. Its modular concept affords an individual sustainability assessment by several input options, like machine capacity, investment costs and achievable revenues. The tool enables the user to assess and compare different recycling opportunities concerning environmental, economic and social aspects in relation to identified material compositions and technologies applied.