How to crush concrete: A simple guide

Machinery partner expert onsite with Chad using his new yellow ARK 503 jaw crusher

It might be easy to pay someone to haul away the concrete waste piled up at your site, but what if you could create a new income from all the concrete sidewalks, roads, parking lots, and structures you tear up?

Creating and selling recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is easier than you might think, and there are so many uses for it too, including gardening, landscaping, and hardscaping. To help you get started, we made a simple guide that answers some frequently asked questions!

What is recycled concrete aggregate?

Recycled concrete aggregate is concrete that has been crushed into a certain size and quality—typically between 1-2 inches. Debris like steel and rods have been taken out and separated. Also, non-concrete materials like soil, plaster, and clay have been removed, leaving only RCA when fully processed. RCA made on-site is just as good as the virgin aggregate bought from a supplier, and it will save you money by making your own!

Crushed concrete in bins ready to be sold to customers. there are two bins made from concrete blocks that are stockpiled high with crushed concrete — Crushed concrete aggregate ready to buy from a supplier

Concrete recycling near me...

You can't get much closer than concrete recycling on your own land or job site!

Concrete recycling has become increasingly popular in recent years, and a quick Google search will show you why: concrete dump near me and concrete recycling near me are two of the most popular search terms! If you want to get even closer to concrete recycling, do it yourself. Not only can you save money on dumping or tipping fees, but you can also create your own concrete recycling business by offering services in your local area. People could hire you to handle their waste concrete and recycle it for them—an amazing opportunity as concrete recycling is becoming more and more in demand. Get creative with your concrete recycling venture!

How do I crush concrete to sell it?

The idea of recycling concrete may seem a little daunting, but it’s actually really easy to get started. There are only two steps!

Step one: Remove and break up concrete on your job site into workable pieces. You can do this by attaching a hydraulic breaker to your excavator. For bigger jobs, a pulverizer can be used.
Step two: You will want to crush larger pieces of concrete into more manageable pieces using a compact and mobile jaw crusher. If the job requires a bigger machine, jaw crushers come in a full range of sizes; check out different crushers here. It is also important to remove any metal from your concrete so that it does not get mixed in with your RCA. Some machines come with built-in overband magnets to help make that process easier. Any large pieces of metal that can be removed before being placed into the crusher should be taken out.

For beginners, you can even get a brand new jaw crusher for the same price as a new truck. But does your truck give you a new income stream from what it creates? Recycling and selling crushed concrete can! For experts or for those who are wanting to make large amounts of graded and Department of Transport-approved materials for government jobs - impact crushers are the machines for you!

Crushing with the ARK 503 jaw crusher—perfect for beginners

What are the benefits of crushing concrete?

Recycling and selling RCA requires an investment of time and money, but there are so many benefits to making it. First and foremost, you will be saving money by making your own aggregate. Piles of concrete debris will now be an asset for your business! Secondly, you will expand your customer base as new customers approach your business to purchase the RCA you have made. Lastly, you are focusing on sustainability, as your waste concrete is no longer going to landfill. Customers love doing business with sustainable operations, so don’t keep it a secret and promote it!

large dump truck being filled with waste concrete by a large red excavator. the truck is heading to landfill to dump the concrete waste — You could save money instead of sending all this concrete to landfill

Where can I sell my own recycled concrete aggregate?

Depending on the final grade of your recycled concrete aggregate, you may find a wide variety of markets to sell to, including:

Landscapers
Construction Contractors
Highway Contractors
Homeowners
Water Management Contractors
Engineering Firms

Recycled concrete aggregate continues to be a primary material for road bases and construction fill. Demand for recycled materials and keeping concrete away from landfills remains a high priority for the industry. Creating a new income stream for your company and increasing recycling efforts for your operation is a win-win.

Machinery Partner is here to help make your business more sustainable. We offer a huge catalog of equipment suitable, including crushers, screeners & excavators for every need and budget. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experts to discuss your business ideas today!