Environmental Load Assessment for Recycled Products: Effect of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Intended for Construction Materials

The effect of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from recycled products, a system that has been legally approved by prefectural authorities, was evaluated using a technique known as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Various recycled products in asphalt concrete, cement concrete, and interlocking block were evaluated based on data that was collected through a questionnaire-style survey. Results showed a clear reduction in GHG emissions for all such products. An environmental load reduction coefficient (ELRC) was defined and calculated : the amount of GHG reduction per unit of recyclable resource mixing rate for production of 1ton of the recycled product. Stock-taking of recycled products was investigated, and the amount of recyclable resources and the effect of the GHG discharge reduction were also measured. As a result of this research, it is estimated that there is a 660000ton-CO2/year potential to reduce GHG emissions using recycled products in every prefecture throughout Japan.