Recovery & Recycling of Excavated Tunnel Waste
Rock excavated in an average tunneling project is often considered waste and mostly finds its way to a landfill. Depending on the geology and excavation method used, the extracted material can have significant quality deviations and may be unsuitable for use as construction aggregates because of varying geometric, physical, and chemical characteristics. However, if this waste is suitably treated and processed, it can be recycled and used as a substitute for conventional mineral aggregates at a construction site.
The processing of tunneling rock wastes into usable products is popularly known as tunnel excavation rock recycling. The most common application of the processed material is as aggregates for concrete or as a sub-base for road building, which is good for both environment and business.