📣 Industry Speaks: Green Aggregates by CFlo

We have honed our expertise in purifying silica sand, catering to diverse industries, including solar panel manufacturing. As trailblazers in Construction & Demolition Waste Management, we address environmental challenges by efficiently producing green aggregates from waste streams. Our state-of-the-art design, testing, and manufacturing facilities empower us to deliver tailor-made modular projects globally.
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Guided by ESG principles, our unwavering dedication drives us to create a sustainable future through innovative waste management and resource recovery solutions. Our B2B managed marketplace, Doctor Sand, has swiftly emerged as the preferred sourcing partner for key players in the construction industry. Our commitment to ethical sourcing and enhanced traceability actively reinforces the push to eradicate illegal river sand mining.

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Building a Sustainable Legacy with the Power of Recycled Aggregates

The construction industry holds great economic significance for many countries, but it also has a notable impact on the environment due to its extensive depletion of natural resources and the production of a vast amount of waste.
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The concept of circular economy has gained significant attention in recent years, as an alternative to the traditional natural resource consumption model. This approach focuses on reducing waste through the implementation of three main strategies: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. To address the negative environmental impact of construction and demolition waste, many countries around the world are adopting legislative measures and raising awareness to encourage the reduction of such waste.
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The Indian Government’s Swachh Bharat Mission has set a target to process all solid waste, including C&D waste (CDW), in major cities and towns. The Ministry of Urban Development has urged all states to establish recycling facilities for CDW in all cities and towns with populations exceeding 1 million. [1] The Indian construction industry generates more than 175 MT of debris that needs to be recycled and reused as recycled aggregates for partial or total substitution of natural aggregates. [2]
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Recycled aggregate can minimise the waste disposal problem and reduce the cost of concrete. It is becoming increasingly popular as a construction material due to its benefits from both material and structural perspectives. Its use, which involves recycling and repurposing construction and demolition (C&D) waste, is promoting sustainable development within the construction industry. Using Recycled Aggregates in construction is a sustainable practice with multiple benefits for the industry. Recycling also reduces energy consumption since it requires less energy to produce recycled materials than new ones.[3]
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It further reduces the waste that ends up in landfills, thus conserving space and avoiding the need for new landfills. In addition to these benefits, the use of RA helps to reduce emissions, making it an environmentally responsible option that aligns with sustainability goals. Overall, the use of recycled aggregates is a sustainable solution that benefits both the environment and the construction industry.

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Introducing “Green Aggregates”

"Green aggregates" is a term used to describe construction materials that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. These materials are designed to reduce the impact of building on the environment by utilizing materials that are recycled or renewable, rather than relying solely on finite resources. Using green aggregates can help reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects, which can significantly impact the environment. [4] Green aggregates produced from CDW can be used in a variety of construction applications, such as:

Bituminous (asphalt) road construction
Ground improvements
Earthworks - cuttings and embankments
Utility reinstatement
Shallow and deep foundations
Buildings - residential and industrial
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These are made from various materials such as concrete, asphalt, and other construction and demolition debris. The process of producing green aggregates typically involves the following steps:

Collection and sorting: The waste materials are collected from construction and demolition sites and sorted according to their type.
Crushing: The waste materials are crushed into smaller pieces using crushers, such as impact or jaw crushers.
Screening: The crushed material is screened to remove any debris, such as wood or metal, that may have been missed during the sorting process.
Washing: If necessary, the crushed and screened material may be washed to remove any remaining debris or contaminants.
Sizing: The material is sized according to the desired use, such as coarse or fine aggregate.
Quality control: The recycled aggregates are tested for quality and compliance with relevant standards.
Distribution: The recycled aggregates are then ready to be used in new construction projects.
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The demand for construction aggregates is increasing globally. Recent statistics indicate that the global demand for aggregates is expected to increase from 45 billion tonnes, in 2017, to 66 billion tonnes by 2025. [5]
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Through a study by Monish et al (2013), it was discovered that substituting up to 30% of coarse aggregate with demolished waste yielded concrete with strength that was equivalent to that of plain concrete cubes. Additionally, the recycled concrete mix displayed an impressive range of strength retention, falling between 86.84% and 94.74%. [6]
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CFlo: Repurposing Waste to Facilitate a Circular Economy

To promote sustainability in the construction industry, it is important to focus on maximizing the recycling of waste generated from construction, demolition, and excavation activities.
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CFlo’s advanced C&D waste processing systems help in converting waste into recycled aggregates that have a range of usage in a variety of construction applications.[7]

Aids in achieving this by increasing the production of recycled sand and aggregates of high quality and value, and serve as a substitute for natural materials in various construction applications, including concrete and asphalt production.
Ensure the ability to meet the growing demand for sand and aggregates from a sustainable source
Safeguard green aggregate supply in areas where natural reserves are diminishing
Minimising transport costs for the aggregates as recycled materials are typically produced closer to urban centres
Producing green aggregates closer to the market thereby reducing the carbon footprint of its processing operation
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To fully recover materials and enable the unrestricted utilization of recycled aggregate, it is crucial to introduce a washing plant for your C&D waste. CFlo's advanced C&D waste processing systems are essential for effectively removing various contaminants that could otherwise limit the final destination of recycled products.
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As the construction industry continues to grow, it is important to explore new ways of building that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. Recycled aggregates are one promising solution to this challenge.
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