Life-cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete with recycled aggregates (RAs)

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of aggregates obtained by recycling of demolished concrete - recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), and concrete made with such aggregates - recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). It includes methodological aspects, such as the treatment of allocation in the case of concrete recycling. The results of LCA case studies on two different RCA applications - as aggregate in structural RAC concrete and as material for road base, are presented. The potentials and limitations of LCA in comparing different waste management scenarios are discussed based on the published research. Recommendations regarding future research are given.