Recyclingterrazzo

VIA Terrazzo is already characterized by being 100% recyclable and free from cement and epoxy resin.

Terrazzo with recycled aggregates offers numerous ecological and economic benefits:

Ecological Benefits
    •    Resource conservation: Reuse of demolition material reduces the need for new primary raw materials. Up to 60% of Recycling Terrazzo consists of recycled material.
    •    Waste reduction: Old building materials are put to meaningful use instead of ending up in landfills.
    •    CO₂ savings: Reduced energy consumption for extraction, transport, and processing of primary materials.
    •    Circular economy: Promotes sustainable construction and the reuse of building materials.

Economic Benefits
    •    Lower material costs: Demolition material is often less expensive than newly extracted aggregates.
    •    Value creation from old materials: Existing resources are reused instead of being disposed of.
    •    Possible subsidies: In many countries, there are financial incentives for sustainable construction.

Aesthetic Aspects
    •    Unique appearance: Recycled aggregates create individual color and texture patterns.
    •    High durability: The density and careful selection of aggregates result in robust and hard-wearing surfaces. Thanks to the purely mineral binding system based on environmentally friendly water glass, VIA Terrazzo is extremely low-tension and therefore free from cracking.
    •    Versatile combinations: A wide variety of material combinations are possible.

For use as an aggregate in Recycling Terrazzo, the material should be crushed to a grain size of 0–10 mm.
This fraction is ideal for a homogeneous mix and an aesthetically appealing surface.

The ratio depends on the composition of the Recycling Terrazzo. Typically, between 50% and 60% of the mix can consist of recycled material, depending on the desired appearance, strength, and workability.
Common sources include old concrete or natural stone debris, which are combined with the VIA mineral binder (cement- and epoxy-free) and water.

Recycling Terrazzo can sometimes be less expensive since the raw material (e.g., demolition debris) is already available. However, costs also arise from sorting, cleaning, and processing the material.

Overall, pricing depends on the availability, transport, and processing of the recycled material. Where local material sources are available, Recycling Terrazzo can be a particularly cost-effective solution.

The demolition material must be carefully sorted on site to avoid contamination (e.g., gypsum, wood, or metals). Key requirements:
    •    Material type: Concrete, brick, tiles, or glass, as well as marble, granite, or other natural stones.
    •    Condition: Free from pollutants, paint, coatings, or organic residues.
    •    Grain structure: For an appealing terrazzo surface, the material should be evenly broken down to the right size fraction.

Sorting is usually carried out directly on site, either manually or with crushing plants equipped with screening systems.

On-site processing

If possible, the material can be crushed and prepared directly on site.

Process steps
    1.    Crushing with jaw or roller crusher
    •    Adjust crusher settings so that the final material falls within the desired maximum grain size.
    •    If necessary, use an additional fine crusher or screening system to remove oversize material.
    •    Remove foreign substances (reinforcement, plastics, wood) before crushing.
    •    A magnetic separator can be used to eliminate remaining steel or metals.
    •    End fraction: 0–10 mm recycled aggregate.
    2.    Packaging in big bags
    •    Fill recycled aggregate into big bags (1 m³ or 1.5 m³) with a load capacity of at least 1 tonne.
    •    Use big bags with an inner liner (e.g., polyethylene foil) to protect against moisture.
    •    Label bags clearly: grain size (e.g., 0–10 mm), filling date, intended use (Recycling Terrazzo aggregate).
    •    Place on pallets for easier handling and transport.
    3.    Transport
    •    For large volumes: send to specialized recycling facilities for further processing.
    •    For nearby projects: direct reuse is possible, avoiding long transport distances and extra costs.

Beate Brockamp
? brockamp@viamaterial.de