Session 1: Making better use of recycled concrete demolition waste: Context

Recorded:Tuesday 07 November 2023
Presented by:Elaine Toogood, Director of Architecture and Sustainable Design, The Concrete Centre

Reduce and reuse are priorities for good circular economy practice. There are a growing number of examples of new developments benefiting from the reuse of an existing concrete frame, but what is best practice when concrete is eventually demolished?

The supply chain for demolishing and recycling concrete is well established in the UK, but what is the best use of this secondary resource?

Recycled concrete is often used as a sub-base, but what other opportunities exist or are in development?

Research undertaken at the University of Cambridge has established that cement paste recovered from construction demolition waste can be used in the manufacture of a new cementitious material, Cambridge Electric Cement. Other potential uses include carbon capture use and storage and the manufacture of new concrete whether as recycled aggregate or recycled concrete paste as a cement replacement.

This joint event between Cambridge University and The Concrete Centre, brings together a broad community of representatives from industry to explore the opportunities, challenges and potential for alternative uses of concrete demolition waste.

It will include presentations on some of the new uses in development, their potential production and separation processes, as well as examples of live projects in progress.

Presentations were grouped into three sessions, this is the recording of session 1.

Programme Overview

Session 1 - Setting the Context

Introduction and welcome

Pippa Horton, University of Cambridge

The evolving role of concrete in a circular economy
The UK concrete industry’s aims for enabling greater circularity across the built environment, including enhancing its value in end-of-life scenarios.

Elaine Toogood, Director of Architecture and Sustainable Design, The Concrete Centre

The business case for urban mining - unlocking recycled aggregate as a feedstock of choice for concrete

Chris will set out the how end of life concrete buildings are the material banks of the future, and how the Construction Waste Portal enables local supply chains to take and return value from demolition to new concrete. Chris will also discuss the value hidden in plain sight and the barriers stopping us realising one of the quickest circularity wins in our sector.

Chris Clarke, Performance and Improvement Director, SCAPE Construction Waste Portal

Client demand and targets
What targets are being set for future major construction projects?

Andrew Kidd, LTC Director of Environmental Sustainability, Lower Thames Crossing

Data capture and target setting via pre-demolition audits
Gilli will consider the processes and information necessary pre-demolition to make best use of potential resources.

Gilli Hobbs, Director, Reusefully

Current demolition practices and scope for change 
The current processes for demolition and recycling concrete, and the challenges and opportunities for demolition contractors if crushed concrete is used differently

Howard Button, National Federation of Demolition Contractors

Panel discussion and Q&A

About us

The Concrete Centre provides material, design and construction guidance. Our aim is to enable all those involved in the design, use and performance of concrete and masonry to realise the potential of these materials.

The Concrete Centre, part of the MPA

The Mineral Products Association is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and industrial sand industries.

Useful links

Follow us