As cities like Reno continue to grow and develop, so does the need for infrastructure. Concrete has been the backbone of the modern urban landscape for decades, providing us with bridges, buildings, and roads to keep cities going. As buildings and structures age, however, they often require replacement or renovation. The typical mindset is to replace the old with new, and then throw the old material away. But many people in Reno are taking up the call, being mindful of the impact that our construction and demolition activities have on the environment. Since so much concrete is used in construction, it makes sense that we recycle it whenever possible.
Why Recycle Concrete?
Recycling concrete is essential for several reasons, such as:
- It lowers the environmental impact by keeping the concrete out of our landfills, as well as lowering the cost for concrete disposal.
- It reduces the cost of producing new concrete by reusing existing materials instead, which often leads to significant cost savings for municipalities and businesses.
- Recycling concrete promotes the efficient use of resources and supports a circular economy. In other words, it helps to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Of course, there are other benefits when recycling concrete. For instance, it also reduces the amount of material taken out of rock and gravel quarries and it provides local aggregates for concrete so that other types do not have to be shipped from distant locations. Clearly, recycling concrete is a beneficial practice.
Promoting Concrete Recycling
Although the benefits of concrete recycling might seem reasonable to many people, they might not understand how to go about doing it or promoting the idea to others. Here are some thoughts:
Choose Recycled Concrete Products – when you undertake new construction or renovation projects, choose products made from recycled concrete. If you are a homeowner or small business owner, consider using recycled concrete for landscaping or construction projects. You can often find bags of concrete at home improvement stores that advertise using recycled concrete in their mix.
Educate Yourself – learn more about the benefits and importance of concrete recycling by researching the subject on the Internet. You can also seek out recycling locations available in your area.
Spread the Word – once you know about how to recycle concrete, there’s no reason to keep it all to yourself. Share this knowledge with others so that they too can recycle concrete. If you’re up for a challenge, you can reach out to local government officials and urge them to support concrete recycling programs.
Support Industry Standards – you can also support industry standards and initiatives that promote sustainable practices in the construction industry, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program.
Keep your Concrete Longer
Of course, if your concrete stays well-maintained and intact, you won’t need to replace or recycle it. After all, the motto is: “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” One way to reduce concrete waste is with epoxy coatings from Nevada Custom Coatings in Reno. An epoxy floor over your concrete protects it from impacts, scrapes and gouges, or even corrosive liquids. With non-slip finishes, you can protect people from slips and falls. With coved flooring, epoxy flooring even protects your walls. And if that wasn’t enough, epoxy floorings from Nevada Custom Coatings are customizable – you can choose how great they’ll look as they protect your concrete!
To find out more, give our office a call or schedule a free onsite consultation using our online form. Whether you are ready to recycle your concrete or not, Nevada Custom Coatings is here to make sure your concrete lasts a lifetime and looks great in the process.