Recycled aggregate trial wins Green Mind Award for TRL

UK-based TRL, who provides independent research, consultancy, testing and certification for all aspects of transport, has been awarded a Green Mind Award for the best Green Innovation project in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The project, “Investigating Recycled Aggregate Materials in Construction”, involves the use of recycled aggregate in a full scale building trial intended to support the construction of a sustainable and green Qatar. It aims to reduce the volume of solid waste accumulating in the country and across the MENA region as well as to provide a practical solution for a cheaper and sustainable aggregate supply into the region.

Following on from extensive laboratory tests, three single storey buildings were constructed adjacent to each other using alternative aggregates to replace different proportions of virgin aggregate in structural concrete and load bearing concrete blocks. A comprehensive testing programme is underway to monitor in-service performance, with initial results indicating that the performance of the concrete made with alternative aggregate is as good as, if not better than that made with virgin aggregate.

The use of research-based evidence to develop and implement new technologies will enable government organisations and the construction industry to establish reliable and sustainable infrastructure. The project outcomes have been adopted in Qatar through the update of the Qatar Construction Specifications and setting a national recycling target in the Qatar National Development Strategy. The technology and procedures developed in Qatar could be easily transferred to other MENA countries to enable them to become greener.

Successful development and implementation of innovative products from alternative aggregate will develop new business opportunities with associated jobs for the processing and marketing of recycled aggregate materials. This three-year project funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) is due to be completed later this year.