Waste management in ready mixed concrete production

Production and use of ready mixed concrete (RMC) -which is one of the most important input of construction projects- lead various environmental and economic consequences due to the amount and characteristics of the generated waste. RMC producers have to pay attention to waste recycling issues in order to both improve their competitive advantages and fulfill environmental obligations. The aim of this study is mainly to discuss and analyse how recycling of RMC waste is achieved, what the requirements of legislation for recycling are, how the recycling units are used and what the environmental advantages and operation costs of these units are in Turkey. While required data, has been collected by a questionnaire survey which has been undertaken with the members of Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Organization (TRMCO) one of the RMC producer's plant, which has a recycling unit and which keeps records related with the input, process and output of the recycling unit regularly was observed as a case study. The data obtained and results of the study show the importance of recycling in terms of both environment and national economics and provide a reference point to Turkish RMC producers and government in order to compare the production output related with recycling of concrete.