Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

ASTM proposed standard on recycling ready-mixed concrete

A proposed new ASTM International standard will cover the process, verification and record keeping procedures for recycling returned fresh concrete. The proposed standard, ASTM WK39876, Specification for Returned Fresh Concrete for Use in a New Batch of Ready-Mixed Concrete, is being developed by Subcommittee C09.40 on Ready-Mixed Concrete, part of ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates.

A significant amount of concrete is returned to manufacturing plants, which can result in wasted material, the need for disposal and unnecessary environmental impact. These issues can, however, be minimized since some of the returned concrete is suitable for reuse and can be incorporated into new batches. A proposed ASTM International standard will ensure that returned fresh concrete mixed with new concrete has known and verifiable characteristics.

“Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world,” says Eric Koehler, VP, Verifi LLC, and chairman of the task group developing ASTM WK39876. “The proposed standard will help ready mixed concrete manufacturers reduce waste material and disposal requirements. Purchasers and specifiers of concrete can obtain concrete with greater recycled content while ensuring the concrete is of high quality.”

Koehler notes that technology available to facilitate the reuse of returned fresh concrete includes hydration stabilizing admixtures that can be used to extend the setting time of concrete and ensure that concrete can be used in a new batch. In addition, truck-mounted equipment can be used to measure, manage and record concrete slump, water content, temperature and load size throughout the delivery cycle to reduce the need for manual testing.

Subcommittee C09.40 welcomes all interested parties, particularly those with experience in using returned fresh concrete, to contribute to the ongoing development of ASTM WK39876.

ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/join.
 0
Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Technical Talks
Read More
Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Dawn Rogers
Industry News
Read More
What Mason Contractors Don't Know Is Costing Them Money
July 2026

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Erin Koets
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More