Potential Use of Municipal Solid Waste Ash (MSWA) As Sustainable Construction Bricks

Abstract

Uncontrolled infrastructure development may produce excessive carbon emission and scarcity of natural resources, that exploited for the mean of development. The reuse of waste materials will promote material ecology and the cradle to cradle concept. This study utilizes Municipal Solid Waste Ash (MSWA) as a potential target material in replacing laterite soil that is nonrenewable natural resources. Mix design, compositions were established for industrial trial of brick making. Laterite soil on its own (100%) and in combination with MSWA, (50:50) stabilized with PC and Lime at 20% and 30% were used to produce bricks. The bricks were then air dried. Two engineering properties, compressive strength and water absorption were studied. The investigation results show that compressive strength and water absorption of laterite soil combine with MSWA at (50:50) recorded higher strength compared to when laterite soil were used alone. This suggests viability and feasibility of using waste material in brick making.