Analysis of the Advantages and Investment Prospects of Producing Manufactured Sand from Construction Waste

02/08/2026

The construction industry is booming, and the demand for sand and gravel aggregates continues to rise. However, due to environmental protection regulations and restrictions on natural sand and gravel mining, there is a shortage of sand and gravel aggregates. In some areas, the price of aggregates has increased from 20-30 yuan per ton to 110-120 yuan per ton, and the price remains high.

Due to the rapid growth of the construction industry in recent years, the amount of construction waste has also increased. In 2018, my country's urban construction waste output reached a staggering 1.5 billion tons, and it continues to increase rapidly at a rate of 10% per year, expected to reach around 2 billion tons in 2019. However, my country's construction waste treatment rate is only about 5%. The 1.5 billion tons of construction waste urgently need to be processed, which could create trillions of yuan in value. The recycling and reuse of construction waste not only has promising prospects but also significant profit potential. Today, let's take a look at the market advantages and investment potential of using construction waste to produce manufactured sand in the current industry.

What are the advantages of using construction waste to produce manufactured sand?

Manufactured sand made from construction waste is a type of manufactured sand.

Manufactured sand is a type of sand, mainly referring to sand formed by machine crushing. Generally, any stone material with sufficient hardness can be used as raw material for manufactured sand. More precisely, igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary rocks with sufficient compressive strength should be selected. According to GB/T14685-2001 "Pebbles and Crushed Stones for Construction," the saturated compressive strength of igneous rocks should not be less than 80 MPa, metamorphic rocks should not be less than 60 MPa, and sedimentary rocks should not be less than 30 MPa.

Manufactured sand is compared to natural sand such as river sand. Natural sand is mainly formed by natural forces, such as river sand and sea sand. However, due to environmental protection and other reasons, the cost of natural sand is becoming higher and higher, while its profit is becoming lower and lower, and the market is shrinking. Therefore, manufactured sand is becoming more and more popular in the market, and its market share is increasing.

Comparison of Manufactured Sand and Natural Sand

With the increasing scarcity of natural sand and its protection under government policies, the market for manufactured sand is showing tremendous potential and vitality. Especially in recent years, the huge demand in the construction market has promoted the rapid development of the sand and gravel market. Manufactured sand, produced using high-efficiency impact crushers, is gradually replacing natural sand in the market due to its unique advantages, becoming one of the best sources of construction materials.

While manufactured sand is slightly less durable than river sand, it still meets the superior grade standards of GB/T141684293 and poses no problems when used in ordinary concrete. Manufactured sand has more irregular particle shapes, resulting in better adhesion, higher compressive strength, and a longer service life when used with cement and other structural binders.

What are the investment prospects for producing manufactured sand from construction waste?

The prospects are excellent.

The prospects for producing sand from construction waste are very promising. Currently, every city faces the demolition of houses, roads, parks, and bridges, and the waste materials from these demolitions require unified processing. Crushing and processing construction waste into sand transforms these waste materials into valuable resources. The raw materials are abundant and inexpensive, and there is also policy support. Producing sand from construction waste can generate significant profits.  Furthermore, the crushed construction waste will also contain scrap iron, which represents another source of income.

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