New ASTM standard supports recycling of fresh, returned concrete

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff

ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates’ C1798, Specification for Returned Fresh Concrete for Use in a New Batch of Ready-Mixed Concrete, affords producers process, verification, and record-keeping procedures to lower stockpile volume or reclaimer throughput.

“This standard recognizes unused concrete in a fresh state as a potential ingredient for a new batch,” says Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association President and ASTM C09 member Rich Szecsy. “Recycled fresh concrete can be treated as a raw-material component just like water, aggregates and cement.”

Prior to C1798, he adds, ready mixed producers had some options for repurposing or recycling fresh concrete, but returned or leftover material was often disposed of in a landfill. “Because of this new standard, the industry can participate in a more sustainable construction practice in which millions of cubic yards of concrete can now be recycled in a way that is safe for end users and provides a more conscious approach to environmental stewardship,” Szecsy affirms. — www.astm.org