Investigation and Utilization of Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste into Low Cost Construction Materials

Total cost of housing construction, building materials contributes to more than 60% of cost in developing countries like India. The increase in the popularity and fashion of construction is growing big on a large-scale. The old structures are demolished to construct new and the solid waste accumulation turns to be higher in alarming rates. In addition the waste generated during the process of construction makes space run out in the sites and it needs to be evacuated. C&D waste collectively called as Construction and Demolition waste has evolved itself as a great threat by polluting the environment and ecosystem. Moreover, the natural resources and materials are depleting quickly, where production of new materials also causes pollution and paves way for Global Warming. Hence a proper method shall be employed in reducing the generation of the waste. This could be achieved by adopting a proper planned progressive systematic approach in recycling the generated debris. To avoid the depletion of the natural resources and reduce the pollution to a considerable quantity, the waste generated in Construction and Demolition process shall be recycled. It shall be achieved by removing the shortcomings in recycling process. This paper illustrates the need and proper reasoning for using and employing the recycled C&D waste in construction activities. The general parameters between the conventional and recycled raw materials (coarse aggregate) are studied, tested and results were obtained. A clear comparative study on the parameters based on physical and mechanical properties shall be done extensively in determining the strength properties of aggregates. A final conclusion shall be arrived based on the obtained results.