Cement, Energy and Environment

A similar initiative was undertaken by Mumbai– based non-profit Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation in 1999 in Navi Mumbai. Over 1,500 tonnes of C&D waste was recycled under the project during 2002-06. These initiatives have, however, failed to take off. While the YUVA project ended in 2009, IEISL plant finds no takers for its blocks and pavers. Complicated standards Officials involved with the projects blame the failure on the construction products standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that do not mention :!~cycled C&D waste as a "suitable bui lding material ". IS:383-1970, the BIS standard for aggregates (sand and stone used for making concrete), stipulates that concrete can be made only with "naturally accessed material". Construction agencies cite this rule to avoid using recycled waste. "The interpretation is inaccurate," says Sunil Soni, director general of BIS, adding that BIS permits the use of aggregates, other than natural aggregates, in concrete under the standard 18:456-2000. The text of IS:456-2000 code, however, does not include the word "recycled", wh ich dissuades developers from using recycling C&D waste. In fact, though it allows using "broken brickbats" a . ' maJor component of C&D waste, bui lders play safe and prefer buying fresh bricks and then break them to make brickbats. Some experts say there is an urgent need to set standards for C&D waste. But Soni says framing new standards is a long process and will take time. Since BIS does not prohibit using any new material in the absence of standards, he suggests that authorities can take the initiative and permit recycled material. "This is allowed under the National Building Code," he says. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), for instance,can revise its schedule of rate (SOR is a document that determines the pri ce of construction materials used by government agencies) to incorporate recycled C&D waste in the list of building materials. Since CPWD's SOR serves as the base document for state SORs, any change in the CPWD document will getreadily incorporated in state SORs. CPWD, however, has been sceptical about recycled C&D waste and does not allow its use in construction. Early this year, it informed Parliament that "C&D waste having no salvage value is disposed of at approved dumping sites as per municipal rules". It has also not responded to appeals by the Environment Pollution Control Authority for suggesting how to promote the use of recycled C&D waste. To eliminate scepticism regarding the suitability of C&D waste, BIS has gone out of its way and constituted a panel to formulate a list of aggregatesfrom other than natural sources. "The panel aims at addressing the dual problems of waste disposal and shortage of construction material," says Jose Kurian, convener of the panel. Based on the trend world over, the panel is exploring different kinds of recycled industrial wastes, including C&D waste. It has already held two meetings within three months this year, something unheard of in BIS where technical meetings are usually held once a year. To avoid delays, BIS has decided to incorporate provisions allowing recycled C&D waste as aggregates under IS:383-1970. 'T he amendment would automatically allow the use of recycled C&D waste in all products made out of concrete and reduce the need of subsequent amendments in other standards," says Kurian. "To check unrestricted use of these options, the amendments would spell out limitations in terms of the type or grade or application of such products." BIS is considering allowing up to 20 per cent recycled concrete aggregatesas replacement of natural aggregates. The percentage of replacement could be increased in fu ture as and when new research data becomes available. To determine these checks, BIS requires technical studies by government agencies on suitabil ity of recycled C&D waste as replacement of natural aggregates in concrete. These studies need to be independentl y carried out by multiple agencies to avoid biases or flaws. But BIS' efforts so far have been hampered due to an acute shortage of such studies. JElLS, the sole C&D waste recycler in the country, has not undertaken any studies . Though a few studies are under way, they cannot be used by BIS till they are complete (see 'Gauging feasibility'). Once the amendment is in force, the government would need to ensure proper segregation of C&D waste because it wi ll have a direct impact on the quality of the recycled product. So, BIS will initially permit the use of recycled waste only from sites being redeveloped and not from deleterious structures such as abandoned chemical factories or a 100-year-old building , says Kurian . 34 { '(