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Cement and concrete flow analysis in a rapidly expanding economy: Ireland as a case study

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  • Woodward, Rachel
  • Duffy, Noel

Abstract

A national material flow model for concrete, the most popular construction material in Ireland, was developed based on the framework of material flow analysis. Using this model the Irish concrete cycle for the year 2007 was constructed by analysing the material life cycle of concrete which consists of the three phases of: production (including extraction of raw materials and manufacture of cement), usage (ready-mix and other products) and waste management (disposal or recovery). In this year, approximately 35 million metric tonnes of raw materials were consumed to produce 5 million metric tonnes of cement and 33 million metric tonnes of concrete. Concrete production was approximately 8 metric tonnes per capita. By comparison, the concrete waste produced in that year was minimal at only 0.3 million metric tonnes. Irish building stock is young and there was little demolition of structures in the year of study. However this build up of construction stock will have implications for the future waste flows when the majority of stock built in the last decade (43% of residential stock was constructed in the last 15 years) reaches its end of life.

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  • Woodward, Rachel & Duffy, Noel, 2011. "Cement and concrete flow analysis in a rapidly expanding economy: Ireland as a case study," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 448-455.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:55:y:2011:i:4:p:448-455
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.12.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cao, Zhi & Shen, Lei & Liu, Litao & Zhao, Jianan & Zhong, Shuai & Kong, Hanxiao & Sun, Yanzhi, 2017. "Estimating the in-use cement stock in China: 1920–2013," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 21-31.
    2. Jan Kovanda, 2021. "Economy‐wide material system analysis: Mapping material flows through the economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1121-1135, October.
    3. García-Torres, Samy & Kahhat, Ramzy & Santa-Cruz, Sandra, 2017. "Methodology to characterize and quantify debris generation in residential buildings after seismic events," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 117(PB), pages 151-159.
    4. Huang, Chu-Long & Vause, Jonathan & Ma, Hwong-Wen & Yu, Chang-Ping, 2012. "Using material/substance flow analysis to support sustainable development assessment: A literature review and outlook," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 104-116.

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