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CrowdScience: Can we recycle concrete?

Discussion & Talk

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12/11/2021 GMT

Can we recycle concrete?

BBC World Service - CrowdScience, Can we recycle concrete?

Concrete has a big CO2 footprint – so can we turn waste into new structures?

Concrete is the most used substance on earth after water – and that comes with a big carbon footprint. So is there a way to recycle it – and should we value it more?

Concrete is the most widely used substance on earth after water. It’s quite literally the foundation of the modern world, and no wonder - it’s strong, cheap, and mouldable into nearly any shape.

But these benefits come at a cost: concrete production is responsible for around 8% of global CO2 emissions - that’s around three times more than the aviation industry. 

Concrete might not look pretty, but given its carbon footprint, should we be more careful about how we use it? And rather than throwing waste into landfill, could we recycle it instead? That’s what Crowdscience listener Catherine wants to know.

To investigate, Marnie Chesterton and Anand Jagatia learn more about what makes concrete such a brilliant and versatile material. It’s down to the chemistry of how cement dries – which, it turns out, is anything but boring. They find out how the stuff is made, and why that produces so much carbon. And they hear about some ingenious projects to repurpose demolition waste – including creating underwater habitats for marine life, and using 3D printers to turn crushed concrete into street furniture. 

With Prof John Provis, Prof Becky Lunn, Chris LaPorta, Sheryl Lee, Dr Edward Randviir and David Lacy

Presented by Marnie Chesterton and Anand Jagatia.
Produced by Anand Jagatia for BBC World Service

[Image: Discarded Concrete, Credit: Getty Images]

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