Utilization of Waste from the Construction Industry to Use it as a Valuable Resource: A Review

Abstract

Tons of waste materials are produced from various manufacturing units, construction industries and other industries in the form of waste. The exponential growth of various industries and rapid urbanization has significantly contributed to the deterioration of the environment with the disposal of the generated wastes that could be efficiently recycled. Production of these waste materials and other by-products through industrial processes results in the generation of huge amounts of solid, waste, liquid and gaseous waste which can prove to be hazardous to the environment. The Stone industry is one of the most lucrative commercial enterprises around the world due to the high demand for stone as a construction material. Throughout the world, the disposal of mining (cutting and slurry) waste is a major environmental problem causing environmental hazards such as pollution (water and air), contaminating the soil and hazardous to the vegetation. Material slurry waste (generated through cutting and polishing process), have pozzolanic as well as cementitious property and can perhaps be utilized as a part of cement and sand in the concrete mixes to enhance its strength. Novel waste management problems are much sought after replacing natural raw materials with wastes. Stone slurry waste can be utilized to replace fine aggregate or cement, or it can be utilized as admixtures so that natural assets can be saved more successfully and productively such that the environment can be protected from waste. Mortar is an excellent structural construction material, protects the structure from the external environment. Within the past few years, stress was given on green concrete as it results in sustainable development. This paper presents a review of the efficient use of waste materials from the construction industry and how it could be reused as a valuable component back into the construction industry.

Keywords: Waste Materials, Stone dust, Slurry Waste, Sustainable development and Green Concrete.