Technical feasibility of using recycled aggregates to produce eco-friendly urban furniture

Abstract

The construction sector is characterised by high resource consumption and waste production. Consequently, current European policy aims for maximum use of available resources through converting waste into new raw materials. In this context, using recycled aggregates in less demanding technical applications, such as pieces for urban furniture, could help to maximise the use of these granular materials. In this research, partial and total replacement of natural aggregates has been used to produced ecofriendly benches that meet technical requirements, for surface characteristics, compression strength and water absorption. Putting benches into service for 24 months has shown a slight decrease in compression strength and water absorption values for pieces produced with recycled aggregate; nevertheless, the values were always within the technical requirements limits. These results and the small hanges measured in other properties, such as density, carbonation, rebound index and ultrasonic velocity with similar values to those pieces produced with natural aggregate, lead to the conclusion that using recycled aggregates to produce urban furniture is technically feasible.