4. Utilization of Recycled Industrial Solid Wastes as Building Materials in Sustainable Construction

In the last decades, the environmental sustainability problem has been pronounced due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization and ever-increasing quantities of waste materials. The construction industry is a principal consumer of natural reserves, resulting in a fast depletion of non-renewable resources, accumulating more waste, and creating considerable environmental, esthetic, economic, and social problems. With increasing environmental awareness, a more responsible approach to the environment is to increase the use of waste by-products from one industry as raw material for another industry. The efficient waste recycling and valorization for a wide range of applications can make a big step toward the economy and obviously toward the nation’s progress, simultaneously abating further pollution. Extensive utilization of recycled waste as eco-friendly raw materials in construction is considered an innovative, thoughtful strategy to divert significant volumes of waste from landfills, conserve natural raw materials, and contribute to environmental sustainability and protection. Recently, the recycling domain researchers have tried to produce alternative next-generation building materials incorporating non-hazardous “green” wastes as mineral additions, in harmony with the sustainability of the environment. However, the stringent environmental regulations, lack of user guidelines and public awareness, and property inconsistencies impeded the large-scale waste utilization for potential applications. This chapter discusses the various solid waste byproducts generated from industrial activities and their environmental implications. The chapter highlights the recycling potential of major industrial waste materials, focusing on the possible use in geotechnical systems, highway pavements, and construction materials. Finally, this chapter is an effort to develop the awareness and importance of industrial waste management and its utilization in a productive manner.