Sustainable Utilization of Mining Waste in Road Construction: A Review

Mining by-products present both an environmental challenge and a resource opportunity. This review investigates their potential application in road pavement construction, focusing on materials such as fly ash, slag, Sulphur, red mud, tailings, and silica fume. Drawing from laboratory and field studies, the review examines their roles across pavement layers—subgrade, base, subbase, asphalt mixtures, and rigid pavements—emphasising mechanical properties, durability, moisture resistance, and aging performance. When properly processed or stabilised, many of these wastes meet or exceed conventional performance standards, contributing to reduced use of virgin materials and greenhouse gas emissions. However, issues such as variability in composition, leaching risks, and a lack of standardised design protocols remain barriers to adoption. This review aims to consolidate current research, evaluate practical feasibility, and identify directions for future studies that would enable the responsible and effective reuse of mining waste in transportation infrastructure.