Pit & Quarry, February 2014
RECYCLED AGGREGATES California dreaming Meeting the state of Californias aggregate needs over the next 50 years means coming to terms with alternative processing methods A ggregate reserves are dwindling in California and unable to supply current demands This coupled with global pressures to be greener and more sustainable means there are some tough choices ahead for the aggregates industry in the United States One company making a change is CDE Global According to the companys chairman Tony Convery recently released information from the California Geological Survey CGS forecasts a continuing shortage of permitted aggregate resources in California According to the CGS California has a resource to meet about one third of aggregate demand over the next 50 years Aggregate is an essential component for commodities such as concrete asphaltic concrete plaster and stucco which means a shortage may affect Californias ability to provide for new construction projects and infrastructure Convery says Further transporting aggregate from farther distances results in increased environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions air pollution and traffic congestion California famine To give an element of scale to these issues Convery points out that from 1981 to 2010 California consumed on average 180 million tons of mixed construction aggregate each year If that material was transported in 25 ton truckloads then it represents more than 72 million truckloads per year If we are trying to be greener and more sustainable in our approach with an average 25 mile haul that amounts to more than 360 million truck miles traveled almost 47 million EDITED BY KEVIN YANIK The photo above shows a recycling operation on the Isle of Wight Recycling initiatives throughout Europe are changing the way the construction and aggregates sector is thinking and operating 78 PIT QUARRY February 2014 www pitandquarry com
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