Re-use and recycling of bricks - Status quo and perspectives

Brick recycling can not only substitute raw materials for the production of new bricks, but also save primary aggregates in particular and thus conserve resources in many other product areas. New developments in the separation and sorting technology of modern recycling plants allow the prognosis that in the future the building material brick can be almost completely returned to the material cycle. Which route the used bricks actually take will depend on the prevailing technical, environmental and, not least, economic conditions at that time. From an economic point of view, the most important factors will be the further development of selective demolition processes, suitable processing and sorting methods, and marketing potential. Research and development in the brick industry will of course continue to be oriented towards the requirements of modern brick construction methods. However, it is becoming increasingly important in terms of the manufacturer's product responsibility that an environmentally sound, resource-conserving and at the same time economic recycling of the so-called "end-of-life" product will also be possible after the first phase of use.