E-waste in concrete construction: recycling, applications, and impact on mechanical, durability, and thermal properties—a review

Abstract

The exponential growth in industrialization, urbanization, and population has subsequently increased the accumulation of different wastes to hazardous levels. Among these, electronic waste (E-waste) poses a serious threat to the environment with its production rising due to technological advancements worldwide. Therefore, recycling E-waste as an alternate aggregate replacement material in the construction industry can be advantageous in managing this waste stream. This study aims to present a comprehensive insight into the integrated applications of E-waste concrete composite materials in the construction industry including applications to increase the environmental sustainability of concrete structures. This review starts with an illustration of the environmental issues caused by E-waste, elucidates its sources and prevailing recycling practices, and investigates its utility as supplementary cementitious materials. This discussion is further followed by an analysis on recycled E-waste plastic aggregate concrete (RPAC) composites, covering their fresh properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties, durability, and serviceability performance. Besides, this paper also explores the evaluation of the utilization of E-waste fibers (E-fiber) as well as the application of E-waste glass (E-glass) from cathode ray tubes (CRT) in concrete. Based on the detailed review, the positive aspects and the restrictions associated with utilizing E-waste in construction have been highlighted.