Qatari Primary Materials Company (QPMC) said it has signed a contract with Britain’s TRL for the development of quality recycled aggregate for use in construction.

An independent company of engineers, consultants and technical specialists, TRL provides research, technology and software solutions.

With current construction projects in Qatar consuming large quantities of imported aggregate and generating huge quantities of construction waste, the duo have agreed to adopt innovative solutions to convert local construction waste into usable aggregate products that can be used for various construction applications including road construction, building and infrastructure development.

The new agreement aims to support Qatar's strategy of sustainable development and protecting the environment, at reduced costs, remarked Eisa Al Hammadi, the chief executive of QPMC after signing the deal with Dr Khaled Hassan, the country director and head of Middle East Infrastructure, TRL.

"At QPMC, we have placed the government strategy and economy at the centre of our operations. Working together with TRL will enable us to further extend our support to the government to promote sustainability throughout the development of local aggregate from construction waste," stated Al Hammadi.

"Our collaboration will also enable us to reduce reliance on imported aggregate and improve the quality of our local aggregate materials. This will have a positive effect on aggregate pricing, in addition to reducing pressure on our ports and developing new resources for our strategic reserve," he said.

In line with this agreement, both QPMC and TRL will work closely with government organisations and private industry to identify how various types of construction waste can be best recycled to meet requirements of national and international specifications for use in construction, noted Al Hammadi.

"This will enable the development of a new source of aggregate stream and support the construction sector in Qatar," he added.

Dr Hassan said this was a significant milestone in improving the development of Qatar’s sustainability, economy and environmental impact.

"We have a strong history of working with the relevant authorities in Qatar to improve sustainability and the development of recycled aggregate. Our cooperation with QPMC builds on this work and will open the doors for new aggregate products and business opportunities in the construction industry in Qatar," he observed.

According to him, both the companies will work jointly to implementing new codes of practice to improve the quality of recycled aggregates.

The aim is to improve the management of waste generated from construction waste in order to recycle more and dispose of less material. The recycled aggregate could be widely used in various construction applications including concrete buildings, road layers, concrete blocks and interlock, pipe bedding and fill applications, he stated.

"Recycling of construction waste would have great benefits in terms of protecting the environment and reduction of carbon footprint. In addition to developing a new source of local aggregate, the collaboration between QPMC and TRL will minimise damage of the desert through the continued disposal of construction waste in landfill sites," noted Dr Hassan.

"We aim to apply a new strategy for developing recycled aggregate to ensure quality products with pre-certification prior to use in construction. This will add great confidence in the use of recycled aggregate and encourage wider implementation in practice," he added.-TradeArabia News Service