It has previously been shown that the application of multi-generation recycled aggregate in conventional concrete is limited to three generations, after which the degradation of properties makes it unsuitable for reuse. This study shows how the utility of multi-generation recycled aggregate can be extended via application in porous concrete. Porous concrete is produced using three generations of recycled aggregate and a natural virgin aggregate using two different aggregate gradings. The physical (workability, void ratio, sectional void ratio, compressive strength, and flexural tensile strength), hydraulic (permeability and clogging) and environmental (plant growth and leachate) performance of each concrete is compared, and it is shown that porous concrete produced with any generation of recycled aggregate has sufficient properties for application. Environmental leachate testing demonstrated the removal of several dissolved metals and supported vegetation growth; however, nitrate, ammonia and total nitrogen species were not quantified and therefore the nitrogen removal capability of the concretes and plants could not be quantified. The outcome of this work therefore provides an additional pathway for diverting low-quality recycled aggregates from landfill.
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Dadd et al. (2026) studied this question.
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