Recycled Aggregate Definitions
Manufactured Aggregates and Aggregates recovered from processing inert wastes are defined within the European and British standards and specifications as:
Aggregate:
Granular material used in construction. Aggregate may be natural, manufactured or recycled.
Manufactured Aggregate:
Aggregate of mineral origin resulting from an industrial process involving thermal or other modification
Recycled Aggregate:
Aggregate resulting from the processing of inorganic material, previously used in construction.
RA:
Recycled aggregate principally comprising crushed masonry (brickwork and blockwork).
RCA:
Recycled aggregate principally comprising crushed concrete.
RAP:
Recycled aggregate consisting of crushed or milled asphalt. This may include millings, planings, returned loads, joint off-cuts and plant waste.
Inert Waste:
Provided that there is no suspicion of contamination, the wastes listed below are considered to be inert wastes.
- Waste glass based fibrous materials
- Glass packaging
- Concrete including solid dewatered concrete process waste
- Bricks
- Tiles and ceramics
- Mixtures of concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics
- Soils and stones including gravel,
- Crushed rock, sand, clay, road base and planings, and track ballast
- Mixed glass
- Separately collected glass only
- Soils and stones restricted to parks waste, excluding topsoil & peat
The following definition of inert is taken from the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 for clarity.
Waste is inert if:
- It does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or biological transformations;
- It does not dissolve, burn or otherwise physically or chemically react, biodegrade or adversely affect other matter with which it comes into contact in a way likely to give rise to environmental pollution or harm to human health; and
- Its total leachability and pollutant content and the ecotoxicity of its leachate are insignificant and, in particular, do not endanger the quality of any surface water or groundwater.
