CHALLENGES FOR THE PRACTICAL USE OF RECYCLED CONCRETE AS A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE IN CONSTRUCTION IN THE MEXICO CITY METROPOLITAN AREA

Abstract

Concrete is a building material that generates a large amount of CO 2 and consumes a lot of natural resources. Therefore, people seek to replace it with some type of sustainable concrete (SC). One type of SC is the one made with recycled coarse aggregates (RCA), which come from the demolition and subsequent crushing of concrete elements, commonly used in Mexican construction. This paper analyses the situation of the practical use of this type of concrete in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, one of the largest and densest cities in the world. Four main challenges to be faced in the application of this type of SC were found: (1) lack of quality control, (2) flexibility in the regulations or their non-existence, (3) time required to safeguard on site, and (4) the social acceptance of the main players in the construction industry. In conclusion, the use of concrete with RCA is a constructively feasible option, however, it requires prior training of the personnel who manage it, in addition to awareness campaigns among the population that increase demand, or else, to be enforced under a mandatory regulation.