Garbage becomes building material! New process revolutionizes the construction industry in Vienna

Garbage becomes building material! New process revolutionizes the construction industry in Vienna

There are signs of an exciting rethink in the construction industry in Vienna. A new process transforms residues from waste incineration into a high-quality building material that could have a lasting impact on the construction industry. This innovative process is based on a multi-year cooperation project between MA 48, LINZ AG in the waste sector, Brantner green solutions, Wopfinger Transportbeton and the Christian Doppler Laboratory of the Vienna University of Technology, such as meinkreis.at reported.

The process has just received CE certification, which confirms compliance with safety, environmental and health standards in the EU. The new concrete, made from recycled, washed slag, can replace up to 20% of natural materials such as sand and gravel. This technical and ecological suitability was proven by an independent testing agency.

Resource conservation and climate protection

Every year, Vienna needs around 2.3 million tons of sand and gravel for building construction. The new aggregate could cover a local part of this demand and thus support resource conservation. What is particularly noteworthy is that around 80% of the slag from thermal waste recycling in Hohenruppersdorf is processed into high-quality rock replacement. At the same time, around 10% of metals such as iron, copper and aluminum are recovered, while only a small part of the residue has to be landfilled.

The project goes beyond mere material recycling and actively promotes climate protection and the circular economy. “The construction industry must find innovative approaches to reducing environmental impact and conserving resources,” emphasizes a study on the circular economy in construction circularculture.eu is published.

Innovative approaches for the future

The advantages of the circular economy are clear: materials and resources are kept in a closed cycle, waste is minimized and the lifespan of building materials is extended. Mechanical, thermal and chemical recycling offer promising opportunities. Innovative technologies such as automated separation systems and 3D printing could help to further optimize recycling. If we consistently pursue these approaches, the construction industry will have exciting developments in the future.

The combination of resource conservation and modern technologies opens up new perspectives. It remains to be seen how this process will develop and what impetus it can provide for the construction industry in the coming years.