Reuse of cotton and recycle paper mill waste as building material

Cotton waste results from the mechanical processing of raw cotton in yarn mills. Recycle Paper Mills constitute 30% of total pulp and paper mill segment in India. With 85% average efficiency of Recycle Paper Mills, 15% waste is produced annually. Recycle Paper Mills waste and cotton waste has been utilized to make Waste Crete Bricks. It helps in solid waste management, generate additional revenue and help in earning carbon credits. Waste Crete Bricks with varying content of cotton waste (1–5 wt.%), Recycle Paper Mills waste (89–85 wt.%) and fixed content of Portland cement (10 wt.%) have been prepared and tested as per IS 3495 (Part 1–3): 1992 standards. The characteristics of raw materials, which is the base material for Waste Crete Bricks, have been determined using XRF, TG–DTA, and SEM. TG–DTA indicate that bricks is thermally stable up to a temperature of 280 °C while SEM monographs show its porous and fibrous nature. The bricks meet of IS 3495 (Part 1–3): 1992.

► Cotton waste (CW) and Recycle Paper Mill waste (PW) has been utilized to make construction bricks.
► It serves the purpose of solid waste management, revenue generation and earning carbon credits.
► Bricks with varying composition of CW (1–5 wt.%), PW (89–85) and cement 10% have been prepared.
► PCW–cement brick meets IS 3495 (Part 1–3): 1992 standards.
► PCW–cement brick is light weight.