Comparative LCA of concrete with recycled aggregates: a circular economy mindset in Europe
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LCA OF WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Comparative LCA of concrete with recycled aggregates: a circular economy mindset in Europe Francesco Colangelo 1 & Tomás Gómez Navarro 2 & Ilenia Farina 1 & Antonella Petrillo 1 Received: 27 October 2019 / Accepted: 28 July 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) is the largest waste stream in the European Union (EU) and all over the world. Proper management of C&DW and recycled materials—including the correct handling of hazardous waste—can have major benefits in terms of sustainability and the quality of life. The Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC aims to have 70% of C&DW recycled by 2020. However, except for a few EU countries, only about 50% of C&DW is currently being recycled. In the present research, the environmental impact of concrete with recycled aggregates and with geopolymer mixtures is analysed. The aim of the present research is to propose a comparative LCA of concrete with recycled aggregates in the context of European politics. Methods Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is applied using Simapro© software. A cradle to grave analysis is carried out. The results are analysed based on the database Ecoinvent 3.3 and Impact 2002+. Results Results show that the concrete with 25% recycled aggregates is the best solution from an environmental point of view. Furthermore, geopolymer mixtures could be a valid alternative to reduce the phenomenon of “global warming”; however, the production of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide has a great environmental impact. Conclusions A possible future implementation of the present study is certainly to carry out an overall assessment and to determine the most cost-effective option among the different competing alternatives through the life cycle cost analysis. Keywords C&DW . LCA . Recycled aggregate . Circular economy . Geopolymer concrete mixtures
1 Introduction Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) are the heaviest and most voluminous waste streams generated in the EU and all over the world. C&DW waste generation around the world Responsible editor: Holger Wallbaum * Antonella Petrillo [email protected] Francesco Colangelo [email protected] Tomás Gómez Navarro [email protected] Ilenia Farina [email protected] 1
Department of Engineering, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Isola C4, Centro Direzionale Napoli, 80143 Naples, NA, Italy
2
Departamento de Proyectos de Ingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de vera s/n., 46022 Valencia, Spain
reached approximately 3 billion tonnes (Akhtar and Sarmah 2018). While, in Europe, it accounts for approximately 25– 30% of all waste generated and consists of numerous materials, including concrete, bricks, gypsum, wood, glass, metals, plastic, solvents, asbestos and excavated soil, many of which can be recycled (Provis 2017; Davidovits 2018; Walling et al. 2019; Gluth et al. 2017). Thus, C&DW has been identified as a priority waste strea
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