Concrete and cement

Recycled glass may be used as a coarse or fine aggregate, or as a partial cement substitute in a wide range of concrete-based products.

WRAP has sponsored some major studies into this topic through the Universities of Sheffield (the ConGlassCrete project) and Dundee (the GlassAggregate project).

The ConGlassCrete work consisted of two projects which investigated the risk of alkali silica reaction (ASR) and its mitigation, the practicalities of glass addition, mechanical properties, pozzolanic effects when added as a fine powder. It has also led to the publication of a pre-certification report from BRE, confirming the suitability of recycled glass as a pozzolan.

The Dundee project assessed the viability of using borosilicate glass in concrete and provided an assessment of the best practical environmental option (BPEO) for the use of recycled glass in concrete.

Main benefits:

  • Reduces continued exploitation of primary aggregate sources (sand)
  • Excellent contribution towards Sustainable Buildings Task Group target of 10% recycled content

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