Our newsletters have taken us through the basics of concrete washouts, as well as outlining some of the services that make Concrete Washout Solutions stand apart. Our previous newsletter looked at why and how Concrete Washout Solutions has worked to become the industry standard for concrete waste disposal. We offer exceptional, safe, and environmentally-conscious services to the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas. We don’t accept anything but the highest quality concrete waste disposal.
Since we have taken some time to explore these things in previous newsletters, we figured it would be a good time to start getting into the specifics — the nitty gritty, if you will. Today, we will take a look at concrete recycling. We will explore how to approach concrete recycling based on the nature of your concrete, and we will give a brief introduction into concrete wash-water treatment. Concrete Washout Solutions is here to answer all of your concrete questions. Contact us today.
CONCRETE RECYCLING: SOLIDS
As we go through the concrete washout process, including the washing out of truck chutes and pieces of equipment, there will be a certain amount of solids that will be collected. These fine and coarse aggregates are then separated out. Such concrete solids are great for recycling. We will collect these concrete solids from the washout process, where will then take the concrete material to a nearby recycler and have it processed into road base.
CONCRETE RECYCLING: HARDENED CONCRETE
Part of what makes the concrete waste disposal and washout service so essential is that it prevents the hardening of concrete in the equipment. The last thing you need is hardened concrete inside the drums or chutes of your trucks. This is why a washout is needed after each day of work. However, sometimes hardened concrete accrues in other areas such as the containers. This is after the washout water has been removed or evaporated.
The remaining hardened concrete can then be crushed and broken into pieces. The crushed concrete, like the collected solids, can then be recycled into road base.
CONCRETE RECYCLING: WET CONCRETE
It is very common for construction sites to have an excess amount of mixed concrete, which results in wet concrete remaining in the drums of trucks after delivery. This excess wet mixed concrete can, of course, be returned to the mixed plant. The mixed plant can utilize this unused concrete in a variety of ways, including the following:
- Pour for a variety of precast concrete products
- Pave the ready mixed plant’s yard
- Washed into a reclaimer
- Allowed to harden on an impervious surface so it can be crushed later on
If the wet concrete is to be hardened, it is imperative that the surface is impervious. The EPA notes that, “Unused wet concrete should not be dumped on bare ground to harden at construction sites because this can contribute to ground water and surface water contamination.”
CONCRETE WASTE DISPOSAL
Not surprisingly, the wash-water that result from the concrete washout process also need to be treated, recycled, or disposed. Concrete Washout Solutions ensures that the resulting wash-water is taken care of in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner. The cementitious slurry is rich with toxic metals, high amounts of ammonia, and dangerous pH levels. We take this process seriously and take every step necessary to prevent run-off, spillage, and any other negative effects from concrete wash-water.
Be on the lookout for more information on the concrete washout industry and updates about our company. As always, be sure to reach out if you’re looking for quality concrete washout services in the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas.