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Waste Material Utilization in Civil Engineering Applications: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions-A Scoping
Chathurika Dassanayake1, Nuha S Mashaan1, Ridmi Galagedara1
1School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Civil engineering can utilize waste materials for sustainable infrastructure, reducing environmental impact and conserving resources. Challenges remain in material variability and long-term performance validation for wider adoption.
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Growing urbanization and industrialization generate vast waste streams.
- Disposal of waste materials poses significant environmental and land-use challenges.
- Civil engineering offers large-scale waste valorization opportunities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the use of waste materials in civil engineering for sustainability.
- To evaluate global availability, characteristics, and applications of various waste streams.
- To identify challenges and future research directions for waste material reuse.
Main Methods:
- PRISMA-guided scoping review methodology.
- Critical evaluation of literature on waste materials in civil engineering.
- Synthesis of data on material properties, applications, and benefits.
Main Results:
- Identified diverse waste materials (fly ash, slag, plastics, etc.) applicable in civil engineering.
- Highlighted environmental and economic benefits of waste material utilization.
- Noted limitations including material property variations and economic constraints.
Conclusions:
- Waste materials offer significant potential for sustainable infrastructure development.
- Addressing technical, economic, and validation challenges is crucial for wider implementation.
- Further research is needed to enhance resource efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in civil engineering.
Keywords:
bauxite residuecarbon emissionscircular economyfly ashroad pavementsustainable materialstailingwaste materialsMore Related Videos
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