Recycling Concrete for Circular Economy: Quantifying Environmental Benefits in UAE

Abstract

The world is experiencing unpresented growth in urbanization and infrastructure building, which leads to the rapid exploitation of the natural resources required for the construction process, as well as generating millions of tons of construction waste every year. To combat the negative effects of this phenomenon, the world is moving towards a more circular economy. This paper addresses the issues of the application of circular economy in the construction and demolition in the world generally, and in UAE specifically. The recycling of concrete as one of the most produced materials in the C&D sectors could lead to cost-reduction in the production of fresh concrete for use in the C&D sector, environmental benefits from reduction of the waste dumped in landfill and the reduction in the carbon footprint of the industry, as well as other environmental benefits for the C&D sector. This research findings are based on Life Cycle analysis for the environmental impacts and feasibility of the concrete recycling in C&D sector in UAE. The aim of this research is to provide a LCA for quantifying the environmental benefits for the implementation of the circular economy principles in the C&D sector by recycling concrete waste.

Date of Award	8 Dec 2024
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Malik Mansoor Ali Khalfan (Supervisor)