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4 Top Suggestions for Recycling Your Old Concrete

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So, you've decided to get rid of your concrete drive or the patio in your garden. You've hired the equipment to break it up -- now you're wondering what to do with the smashed up pieces of concrete you're going to be left with. Like many things nowadays, it is possible to recycle concrete -- and you should want to as concrete is not biodegradable and takes up a lot of room when it ends up in a landfill. Recycling not only gives the concrete a useful second life, it also saves you having to do the difficult job of transporting it to a dump. Read on for 4 ways to recycle your old concrete driveway.

Use It to Build a Raised Planter in the Garden

If you've always fancied creating a stone border in the garden, now's the time to do it. Okay, it's not stone, but concrete works well and looks as good. When you're breaking up your drive, cut it into similar size pieces. 12 by 18 inches and 12 by 12 inches are a good size for your border. Try to use pieces that are the same depth. Use the wider pieces as a base for the border then dry stack the pieces on top until you reach the desired height. Fill the bordered area with soil and your choice of plants.

Use It to Create a Paved Seating Area in the Garden

If you've always wanted to create a seating area in your garden, then why not do it now? Use your broken pieces of concrete to create a solid platform for a sun lounger or a table and chairs. Select an area, clear the land and fill it with an inch of sand. Lay the concrete pieces onto the sand to create the shape and size of the platform you want. When you've laid the pieces, brush sand into the cracks between the pieces. 

Give Your Concrete Away

If you have more than you need, then why not offer your leftover pieces to somebody else? You can put up a sign in your front yard inviting people to take your concrete. If you get no takers, list them on one of the many free recycling sites. You get rid of your leftovers without having to haul them to a dump, and somebody else gets to use them.

Give It to a Landscaping Company

Check with your local landscaping companies. Keep a lookout for businesses that offer environmentally friendly services. They are likely to use recycled materials where possible. Your concrete could be useful to them for walls and borders. They should be able to collect it from you and may be willing to take all you have.


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