Green Building Materials: Mechanical Performance and Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

In recent years, in the field of waste management, waste-to-energy plants have been attained great attention as a valid method for mitigating landfill disposal in addition to valorizing waste from the energy point of view. Moreover, there are several technological proposals aimed at valorizing and reusing the residues produced by incinerators. Nonetheless, pre-treatment and treatment techniques, including washing and the solidification/stabilization process, may be necessary for the recovery and recycling of this type of by-product. In this regard, the objective of this research is the production of lightweight artificial aggregates with acceptable quality, capable of guaranteeing specific requirements and technical performance, through the recycling of fly ash derived from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). The properties of the three types of aggregates, produced through the cold-bonding pelletization, were evaluated through the mechanical and leaching tests.