Utilization of Mortar Waste as Environmentally Friendly Construction Material Replacement to Support Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Due to its numerous advantages, concrete has become the most utilized construction material globally. However, concrete production causes environmental issues due to the high demand at each batching plant. Yogyakarta’s ready-mix concrete factory generates 60 m3 of waste mortar monthly without further processing. This research examined the mortar waste as a replacement component for other valued construction materials, such as repair mortar, structural components, and rigid pavement, to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 9 and 11. Several laboratory tests were conducted, encompassing grain size analysis, specific gravity, water absorption, mud content, and water content. The user survey aims to understand the perspective and acceptance of using mortar waste as a construction material. Due to the test parameters not exceeding the required threshold, the results unveiled that the mortar waste could be applied as aggregate replacement in construction materials from an environmental perspective. In addition, the survey results expressed positive responses from potential material users.