Utilization of Construction and Demolition Waste (C&D) Waste in Pavement

This research addresses the challenges of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste generation and under-utilization, proposing its effective use in rigid pavement construction as a sustainable alternative. The excessive extraction of natural resources for new construction poses significant environmental concerns, exacerbated by the accumulation of unprocessed C&D waste, which contributes to water body degradation, air pollution, and soil contamination. While C&D waste is suggested in pavement construction according to the C&D Waste Management Rules, 2016, this study investigates the potential of recycled sand and aggregates from C&D waste for pavement applications. A comprehensive testing program was carried out to assess the suitability of these materials for rigid pavement construction, by performing tests on aggregate like specific gravity, water absorption, Bulk Density, Impact value and Crushing value. The study was performed by replacing virgin aggregate with recycled aggregate in concrete by 25% 35 % 40% and crushed/river sand by 100% recycled sand. The results demonstrate that recycled aggregates can replace virgin materials by 25%, 35%, & 40% and sand by 100% without compromising performance. The work has been done on structural specimen like beams and cubes to evaluate compressive strength and flexural strength for different proportions of aggregate replacement. Results demonstrate that the potential of C&D waste recycling in enhancing the sustainability for rigid pavement construction, reducing environmental impacts, and decreasing the exploitation of virgin materials and dependency on virgin resources. The findings offer valuable insights for promoting eco-friendly and resource-efficient construction practices.