Turning Waste into Eco-construction Materials

In Hong Kong, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, waste glass and timber and incinerator ash are produced in huge quantities, contributing significantly to the total amount of solid waste. The disposal of these wastes has aggravated the severe social and environmental problems due to the acute shortage of landfill and public filling capacities. Government has been encouraging the reduction and sorting of these waste through the implementation of various levies and charges, and research for recycling these wastes for beneficial use has become increasingly important.

Prof. Chi-Sun Poon has been leading a Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) team since 2000 to develop methods to recycle these wastes. Recycled materials have been used to pave roads, make concrete, concrete blocks and architectural mortars. The research has led to a new government policy and technical specifications for the use of recycled materials in construction. Some of the developed techniques have been used to produce eco-blocks and eco-glass cement, which are now commercially available for the construction industry.

The development of Eco-blocks

Eco-construction materials