Life cycle inventory of recycled aggregates derived from construction and demolition waste

This study is performed to identify environmental aspects that can be improved during the derivation of recycled aggregates (RAs) from construction and demolition waste (CDW). The Life Cycle Inventory of RAs is established by considering the “gate to gate” scope. Primary data acquired by a Brazilian CDW processing company are used. The result shows that, to derive 1 m3 of RAs, the amount of raw material (i.e., CDW) required is 1.01 to 1.67 m3. The output includes embodied energy and water measuring 2.22–4.35 MJ/m3 and 15.38–30.30 L/m3, respectively; meanwhile, the CO2 emission from the beneficiation process is 5.07–6.20 kg·CO2/m3. Transport emissions are also significant in the environmental impact of recycled aggregates. CO2 emission associated with the transport of CDW and RAs is investigated, in which transport is optimized and non-optimized when the CO2 emission is 0.27–7.68 and 0.53–15.35 kgCO2/m3, respectively. This study is relevant to the circular economy and corroborates the closure of the life cycle of materials used in the civil construction sector by identifying the effects of CDW recycling and RA derivation, as well as their application in civil construction.