Sewage Sludge In Construction

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Nov 16, 2004

CIRIA's new publication 'Use of sewage sludge in construction' (C608) promotes a more sustainable route by assessing the potential benefits and risks of using sewage sludge derivatives.

The water industry produces over 1 million tonnes of sewage sludge each year.

Traditionally most of this sludge has been recycled to agriculture as a soil improver or disposed of at sea.

However, since 1999 sea disposal has been prohibited.

Additional environmental and financial implications of disposing of sludge to landfill have led to the exploration of sustainable and innovative approaches towards sludge disposal or recycling.

CIRIA's new publication Use of sewage sludge in construction (C608) promotes a more sustainable route by assessing the potential benefits and risks of using sewage sludge derivatives within construction processes and materials.

The report identifies several viable uses for sludge or incinerated sewage sludge ash for example, as a fine aggregate replacement in concrete and asphalt or as a sand and clay replacement in ceramic materials.

Dried sludge can also be used as an alternative fuel in cement manufacture.

The book also provides information and guidance on the health and safety implications, the positive and negative impacts on the environment, potential savings and the economic barriers to the use of sludge in structural materials.

Use of sewage sludge in construction (C608) is priced at £45 to CIRIA Core and CIRIA Books Club members and £90 to others.