What are the top 10 construction materials which can be reused and recycled?

       Now a days we are using fly ash widely in the form of FALG bricks or fly ash cement bricks as a major source of recycling material in construction industry. Even in PPC cements and RMC concretes we are using fly ash as a partial substitute for the ordinary Portland cement without compromising the strength of cement as well as in Concrete for the desired strength. Moreover it is the best environment friendly product for using in the construction field. Only thing is the required fineness has to be maintained  in the approved proportions so that it is not detrimental to the structures.

N.S.Rao

C.P.W.D

Using scrap steel and iron rather than virgin products results in an 86% reduction in air pollution and a 76% reduction in water pollution; recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy used to produce it from virgin products.

Every other construction material could be recycled and is posible. A material which is waste / not useful for a particular use is generally can be used for some other use. Concrete debries can be used for strengtheing earth dams in villages. Waste rubber and plastic materials like pvc pies can be recycled or reused for making tiles for pavement etc.

Though the materials mentioned above are very good and save energy the final impact is that they utilise max. natural resources. Fly ash consumes coal, bricks consu,e mud, paper consumes wood, and wood itself is falling short on the global level.

Glass on the other hand does have some draw backs but can be seen as the re-cycled or reused top material of the future. It wont be too dramatic to visualise structural members made of glass and reinforced with fibrous materials......well thats what the future seems to be....

Paper plays a very important role in construction. It is responsible for drawing of plans, design and geomatrical calculations. Recycling paper cuts energy consumption and pollution. Paper recycling can reduce air pollutants by 75% percent and water pollution by 67%; A ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees and three cubic yards of landfill space.

Wood

PVC is one of the most reusable material. It can be recycled,light in weight and aesthetics by appearance. Moreover, it is malleable and is the cynosure of an artist.

We can use recycled aggregate as a recycled material for making any structures. This structures are very economical and its price will also low... !!

Dismantled Concrete can be re-crushed and can be used as aggregate. It can also be used as general earth fill.

Properties of Asphalt pavements can be enhanced by using recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) technology and can be reused. This can be done in-situ also. If not RAP then the dismantled asphalt can also be used in non-bituminous base course. Not advisable to use as general earthfill due to environmental reasons

Bricks have been traditionally reused.

Wood used in structure can also be used in chaukhats etc. Wood of even historic buildings is sometimes found re-usable.

Steel, both reinforcement and structural, can be re-used. But its properties must be re-checked and suitable allowances for degradation, if any, shall be given in design.

mud is the most reusable material we have. we can re use this without any loss of its quality. (we can use it for walls, roof, for plastering, furniture and potteries) we can use clay tiles,marble stones, kadappa stones, granites, random rubble, wood, aluminium, steel, glass, bamboos, jute, coir products and fly ash

          Normally pieces of ceramic glazed tiles or vitrified tiles or granite pieces are disposed off from the site. We can reuse these materials for very good landscaping paths and cladding on walls of tree gaurds etc which enhances the

aesthetics of the surroundings of building/gardens.

N.S.Rao

A far As my knowledge is concerned Except wood there is no construction material which  can be reused or recycled directly. all the debris which collected out of demolition can be used for back filling directly. Yes! steel is one material which can be recycled  and used in construction thru an process. Flu Ash is refusal of another industry which is used in construction but once it is used as construction material it cannot be reused or recycled as construction material.

Since Aggregate occupies as a major proportion for fresh concrete, Recycled concrete aggregates are no doubt the best recyclable material. Past research has critisized its usage because of more shrinkage, hence use of small percentage of Fly ash is suggested while mixing. 

Even Crushed Brick aggrgates usage may be a option in case of Fine aggregate.

In New construction of Roads, we shall remove the Existing road's wearing surface by Milling machine. This milling material is very dangerous for the Environment.  But now a days these materials are mixed with GSB and WMM then reused in the new carriageway