Benefits of Using Recycled Aggregates in Construction

Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) are transforming the construction industry across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Made from crushed concrete, asphalt, and masonry materials, recycled aggregates offer a cost-effective, environmentally responsible alternative to virgin quarried materials—without sacrificing performance.

What Are Recycled Aggregates?

Recycled aggregates are produced by crushing demolition waste—primarily concrete, asphalt, brick, and block—into usable construction materials. At Inland Concrete Recycling, we produce two primary products:

3/4" Road Base

• Size: 3/4 inch minus (material ranges from dust to 3/4")
• Applications: Road base, driveway base, sub-base for pavement, structural fill
• Compaction: Excellent compaction properties due to angular particle shape
• Drainage: Good drainage while maintaining load-bearing capacity

3" Minus Concrete

• Size: 3 inch minus (material ranges from dust to 3")
• Applications: Bulk fill, erosion control, drainage rock, retaining wall backfill
• Volume: Cost-effective for large fill applications
• Stability: Interlocking particles create stable base

Economic Benefits

1. Lower Material Costs

Recycled aggregates typically cost 40-60% less than virgin aggregate:

• Virgin crushed rock: $25-40/ton (plus delivery)
• Recycled 3/4" road base: $12-20/ton (picked up at our facility)
• Recycled 3" minus: $10-18/ton (picked up)

Example savings: A 200-ton road base order saves $2,600-4,000 compared to virgin material.

2. Reduced Transportation Costs

Many projects can reuse crushed material on-site (with mobile crushing), eliminating both:

• Disposal hauling costs ($750-900 per truck load)
• Aggregate delivery costs ($5-15/ton depending on distance)

Combined savings: On a 500-ton project, avoiding hauling saves $18,000-25,000 while avoiding aggregate purchase saves another $6,000-10,000.

3. Faster Project Timelines

• Immediate availability: No waiting for quarry shipments or coordinating multiple suppliers
• On-site processing: Mobile crushing produces material as you demolish
• Simplified logistics: One less vendor, one less contract, one less invoice

4. LEED Credits and Green Building Incentives

Using recycled materials can contribute to:

• LEED MR Credit 2: Construction and Demolition Waste Management (up to 2 points)
• LEED MR Credit 4: Recycled Content (up to 2 points)
• Green building certifications: Many municipal programs incentivize recycled material use
• Sustainability reporting: Quantifiable environmental metrics for corporate ESG goals

Environmental Benefits

1. Landfill Diversion

Every ton of concrete recycled:

• Avoids 1 ton of landfill waste: Extends landfill lifespan and reduces tipping fees
• Reduces landfill methane: Less organic decomposition in landfills (concrete doesn't decompose, but reducing volume lowers overall emissions)
• Supports circular economy: Keeps materials in productive use instead of disposal

Metro Vancouver impact: Our industry collectively diverts over 500,000 tons of concrete annually from regional landfills.

2. Reduced Quarrying and Natural Resource Extraction

• Preserves natural landscapes: Every ton of recycled aggregate = one less ton extracted from rock quarries
• Reduces habitat destruction: Aggregate quarries impact watersheds, wildlife, and vegetation
• Lowers energy consumption: Crushing existing concrete uses ~50% less energy than quarrying, blasting, and processing virgin rock

3. Lower Carbon Footprint

Transportation is a major emissions source in construction. Recycled aggregates reduce:

• Hauling emissions: Using on-site crushed material eliminates diesel emissions from 20-40 truck trips per project
• Processing emissions: Recycling concrete requires less energy than quarrying and crushing virgin rock
• Production emissions: No blasting, drilling, or large-scale earth moving

Carbon savings estimate: A 1,000-ton mobile crushing project saves ~20-30 tons of CO₂ compared to virgin aggregate sourcing.

4. Water Conservation

Aggregate quarries consume significant water for:

• Dust suppression during extraction
• Washing and processing rock
• Equipment cleaning

Concrete recycling uses minimal water (primarily for dust control during crushing), reducing industrial water demand.

Performance Benefits

1. Excellent Compaction Properties

Recycled concrete aggregates have superior compaction characteristics compared to rounded river rock:

• Angular particle shape: Crushed concrete has sharp edges that interlock under compaction
• Improved stability: Angular materials resist lateral movement and shifting
• Higher density: Achieves greater compaction with less effort (fewer passes with compaction equipment)

Engineering advantage: Road base and sub-base using recycled concrete often outperforms rounded gravel in load-bearing applications.

2. Good Drainage Performance

The gradation of recycled aggregates (ranging from fines to coarse material) provides:

• Drainage channels: Larger particles create voids for water flow
• Filtration: Fines prevent soil migration while allowing water passage
• Frost resistance: Proper drainage reduces frost heave potential in freeze-thaw climates

3. Proven Track Record

Recycled concrete aggregates have been used successfully for decades in:

• Highway construction: BC Ministry of Transportation specifies recycled aggregates for base course on many projects
• Municipal infrastructure: Cities throughout Metro Vancouver use recycled materials for road reconstruction
• Commercial developments: Major developers rely on recycled aggregates for site preparation and parking lots
• Residential construction: Builders use crushed concrete for driveways, pathways, and foundation backfill

4. Meets Engineering Standards

When properly processed and graded, recycled concrete aggregates meet or exceed:

• BC Ministry of Transportation specifications: For base course and sub-base applications
• ASTM standards: ASTM C33 for concrete aggregates (in many non-structural applications)
• Municipal standards: Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley municipal specifications

Common Applications

Road and Driveway Base

Why it works:

• High compaction density
• Load-bearing capacity similar to virgin crushed rock
• Angular particles resist rutting and shifting

Typical specifications:

• 6-8" compacted base for residential driveways
• 12-18" compacted base for commercial parking lots
• Variable depth for roadway sub-base (engineered per traffic loads)

Structural Fill

Why it works:

• Cost-effective for large volume applications
• Self-compacting in many applications (gravity settling)
• Reduces settlement compared to native soil

Common uses:

• Basement and foundation backfill
• Utility trench backfill
• Site grading and leveling
• Retaining wall backfill (with drainage provisions)

Drainage Applications

Why it works:

• Permeability allows water flow while supporting loads
• Angular particles resist shifting and clogging
• Gradation provides filtration without geotextile (in many applications)

Common uses:

• French drains and drainage ditches
• Leach field aggregate
• Stormwater infiltration galleries
• Erosion control along slopes

Pipe Bedding

Why it works:

• Crushed concrete provides stable, uniform bedding
• Compacts well around pipe contours
• Meets most municipal pipe bedding specifications

Applications:

• Water line installation
• Sewer and storm drain bedding
• Electrical and telecom conduit bedding

Landscaping

Why it works:

• Natural gray color blends with many landscapes
• Permeable for planting bed drainage
• Low cost for large area coverage

Uses:

• Pathways and trails
• Dog runs and exercise areas
• Dry creek beds (decorative drainage)
• Base for paver patios

Quality Considerations

Not all recycled aggregates are equal. High-quality products require:

1. Proper Source Material

• Clean concrete free of wood, metal, plastic, garbage
• Minimal gypsum or drywall contamination
• Limited asphalt content (for concrete-specific applications)

2. Effective Processing

• Crushing to consistent gradation
• Screening to remove oversized and fine materials
• Magnetic separation to remove rebar and wire mesh

3. Testing and Certification

For critical applications, recycled aggregates can be tested for:

• Gradation analysis: ASTM C136 sieve analysis
• Compaction characteristics: Proctor density testing
• CBR (California Bearing Ratio): Load-bearing capacity
• Chemical composition: Sulfate content, pH, contaminants

At Inland Concrete Recycling, we produce high-quality, properly graded recycled aggregates suitable for engineered applications.

Limitations and Best Practices

While recycled aggregates excel in many applications, consider these guidelines:

Not Recommended For:

• Structural concrete production: Recycled aggregates can be used in some concrete mixes, but virgin aggregates are standard for structural applications
• Exposed decorative applications: Unless the crushed concrete aesthetic is desired
• High-sulfate environments: Concrete containing gypsum contamination can cause expansion issues

Best Practices:

• Specify gradation: Ensure recycled aggregate meets project specifications
• Compact properly: Follow standard compaction procedures (typically 95% Proctor density)
• Provide drainage: In applications where water infiltration occurs, ensure proper drainage design
• Consult engineers: For load-bearing or structural applications, involve geotechnical engineers in material selection

Case Study: Typical Savings Scenario

Project: 500-ton commercial parking lot reconstruction in Surrey

Traditional Approach

• Demolish existing concrete: $8,000
• Haul to landfill (20 loads @ $900): $18,000
• Landfill tipping fees (500 tons @ $140): $70,000
• Purchase virgin road base (500 tons @ $35 delivered): $17,500
• Total: $113,500

Recycled Aggregate Approach (Mobile Crushing)

• Demolish existing concrete: $8,000
• Mobile crushing on-site (500 tons @ $18): $9,000
• Crusher mobilization: $3,000
• Reuse crushed material as base (no additional cost)
• Total: $20,000

Net savings: $93,500 (82% reduction)

Additional benefits:

• Eliminated 20 truck loads (reduced site traffic and emissions)
• Faster project completion (no waiting for material delivery)
• LEED points for recycled content

How to Purchase Recycled Aggregates

Pick-up at Our Langley Facility

• Products available: 3/4" road base, 3" minus concrete
• Pricing: $12-20/ton (volume discounts available)
• Hours: M-F 7:00-4:30, Sat 8:30-3:30
• Loading: Self-load or we can load your truck/trailer

Delivery (Fraser Valley)

• Minimum order: Typically 10-20 tons (one tri-axle load)
• Delivery fee: Based on distance from Langley facility
• Scheduling: 2-3 day lead time for most deliveries

On-site Production (Mobile Crushing)

• Minimum project: 200 tons
• Service area: Metro Vancouver & Fraser Valley
• Pricing: Project-based (typically $15-25/ton depending on volume)
• Benefit: Material produced and available on-site immediately

Conclusion

Recycled aggregates deliver a triple win: lower costs, environmental stewardship, and proven performance. As construction and demolition waste continues to grow in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, recycling concrete into valuable aggregate products is not just smart business—it's essential for sustainable development.

Ready to use recycled aggregates on your next project?

Contact Inland Concrete Recycling:

• Phone: 604-351-0956
• Email: inlandcr@hotmail.com
• Location: Langley, BC
• Products: 3/4" road base, 3" minus concrete, custom sizes available

Whether you need a few tons for a residential driveway or hundreds of tons for commercial infrastructure, we have the recycled aggregates to meet your project needs—at a price that makes sense and with environmental benefits that matter.