Based in Maryland, Repurpose Aggregates is an enterprise focused on developing aggregate materials from the reuse and repurposing of leftover or discarded construction, demolition, and excavation (CD&E) waste.
Its approach to waste recycling will be the focus of an open house event hosted by CDE. The event will offer a unique look at the operation of the CDE plant designed and engineered for Repurpose Aggregates, providing the opportunity to hear from CDE engineers about the economic and environmental benefits of its wet processing solutions.
Scarcity of raw materials
A product of Harford Minerals, Repurpose Aggregates is an extension of the company's mission to create a new sustainability and innovation-focused ecosystem within the aggregates industry.
Understanding the problems facing the construction and development industries, the company felt it imperative to find sustainable solutions to the large increase in CD&E refuse and the growing scarcity of raw materials available.
Repurpose Aggregates were first introduced to CDE at CONEXPO in 2020 and were impressed by their technology and how it integrated with their company vision. Following virtual meetings through 2020 the company completed the investment to expand the company's recycling and reuse operations becoming the first of its kind in Maryland.
A benefit to the local community
The new plant promises to enable a more sustainable future for the local community as well as the company. Having worked with CDE to tailor the solution to their needs, the plant is optimized to accept CD&E waste from various sources (including mining backfilled materials from the site) and produce a range of recycled sand and aggregate products that can be reintroduced to the local construction industry as sustainable alternatives to virgin quarried materials.
The 250tph recycling facility consists of an extensive lineup of CDE equipment, including the R4500 primary scalping screen, M4500 mobile washing plant, AggMax 253R modular logwasher, Shear Clean Attrition Cells, DS60-6 scrubbing and washing equipment, Counter Flow Classification Unit (CFCU200) density, and size classification system and EvoWash sand wash plant.
Repurpose Aggregates also invested in CDE conveyors, an A1500 AquaCycle thickener and a Filter Press sludge dewatering system which allows for the recycling of more than 95 percent of process water.
The R-Series technology allows for a constant, even flow of material to be delivered to the integrated screen before being sent for additional screening, washing, and sizing. The modular M4500 sand wash plant integrates feeding, screening, sand and aggregate washing, and stockpiling on a single chassis.
The pioneering AggMax logwasher incorporates aggressive attrition of agglomerates to release sands through scrubbing and organics removal, as well as recovering fines and removing filtrates, while the patented ShearClean Attrition Cells technology further enhances the process as it consistently provides efficient contaminant removal for high-quality sand products.
The Counter Flow Classification Unit (CFCU200) provides an ideal system for the removal of lightweight contamination from fine material fractions and CDE's dual pass EvoWash uses modular hydrocyclone technology, giving control of silt cut points.
Among the materials the plant will produce are washed C33 Concrete sand and fine sands as well as ready mix aggregates. Being modular by design, the plant can be adjusted, and therefore the final product output can be fine-tuned to meet the market's needs and the customers' own specifications.
The CD&E solution will also enable Repurpose Aggregates to partner with public and private entities to process material from local construction and infrastructure projects. Over time, these recycling efforts will help establish a full cycle materials economy, thereby moving the industry and region towards a more sustainable future.
Since commissioning in April 2022, the plant has been delivering a number of high-quality recycled materials for the local construction industry. The project marks a step forward for sustainability in the Washington metropolitan area (DMV) construction industry.
"We first met CDE at CONEXPO in 2020 and were immediately impressed by the company's expertise and our shared vision of increasing sustainability within our sector," says Miguel Lambert, president of Repurpose Aggregates. "We had heard positive reports from a number of other CDE customers and felt confident that they simply had the best technology to meet our needs and aspirations for both our company and the local community."
The company's 80-acre campus will support the circular economy by providing a facility for local construction companies to responsibly dispose of CD&E waste and back-load their fleet with recycled materials that can be reintroduced to the construction industry.
"We supply materials that are used in the construction of local housing developments, schools and sports centers," adds Lambert.
"It has been a great journey to work with Repurpose Aggregates on this project that is already having an impact in Maryland. This has been one of the largest waste recycling projects in the US and it is a privilege to have delivered it with the team," says Darren Eastwood, director at CDE.
