Reciclaje De Compuestos

Composites: Part A 37 (2006) 1216–1222 www.elsevier.com/locate/compositesa

Composite recycling in the construction industry
Amanda Conroy, Sue Halliwell, Tim Reynolds
BRE, Watford, Herts, UK Received 27 April 2005; accepted 13 May 2005

Abstract This paper is addressing the current waste management options for composite waste in the UK. It outlines legislation that is having an impact onthe composites industry. Covers ways of managing waste from the composite industry through the waste hierarchy. Presents findings of projects examining the potential for using composite recyclate to make new useful construction products. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Glass fibre; Polymer-matrix composite; Recycling; Disposal

1. Introduction Fibre reinforced polymers (FRPs)are increasingly being used in construction due to their light weight, ease of installation, low maintenance, tailor made properties, and corrosion resistance. The UK FRP industry produces 240,000 tonnes of products a year with 11% of this being for the construction industry. Current and impending waste management legislation will put more pressure on the industry to address the options availablefor dealing with FRP waste. Such waste legislation focuses on dealing with waste through the waste hierarchy and will therefore, put more pressure on solving FRP waste management through recycling and reuse. At present the most common disposal method for UK FRP waste is landfill. To assist in the transition from disposal in landfill to recycling, the FRP industry needs to consider designing materialsand components for easier deconstruction, reuse and recycling at the end of the product life.

by 2015, 85% of ELVs will have to be reused or recycled (excluding energy recovery), with only 10% incinerated with energy recovery, and only 5% going to landfill [1]. Whilst this new legislation does not impact on the construction industry, currently in negotiation is the proposed EU recommendation onConstruction and Demolition Waste, which if adopted will have a significant effect. FRP suppliers could lose their market share to metal and other industries if they cannot ensure that their FRP components can be reused or recycled at the end of their life.

3. The waste hierarchy According to the waste hierarchy, the options for FRP waste management in order of preference are wasteminimisation, reuse, recycling, incineration with energy recovery/composting, and lastly incineration without energy recovery/landfill (see Fig. 1). 3.1. Waste minimisation

2. EU directives EU directives such as End of Life Vehicles (ELV) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) will put more pressure on solving FRP waste management through recycling and reuse. The ELV directive states that1359-835X/$ - see front matter q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.05.031

The most cost effective and environmentally beneficial option of waste management is not to produce the waste in the first place. By reviewing the manufacturing process it may be possible to identify a method which results in less production waste. Waste minimisation does not assist incomplying with the ELV directive, but may be useful to consider in the face of increasing landfill charges and the development of corporate environmental policies. It

A. Conroy et al. / Composites: Part A 37 (2006) 1216–1222

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Fig. 1. The waste hierarchy.

could also identify where practicable cost savings can be made. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) carried out an extensivesurvey of FRP manufacturing techniques in the UK. Waste takes a variety of forms such as off-cuts, over spray trimmings, trimming dust, trimming from vacuum infusion, defective items and trials runs, plus obsolete moulds. Most automated processes are very efficient and there is little scope for improvement in terms of reducing generated waste, although waste may be generated at the beginning and...