Recycling and reuse of waste in Ready-Mix Concrete to avoid blocking rainwater drainage (India)

The objective of my project work was to find the techniques and ways to reuse and reutilize the sludge and sludge water generated in the manufacturing and transportation of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC). The average sludge generated is approximately 80 – 100 kg of solids per cubic meter of concrete along with 150 to 200 L of sludge water. Hence it is proposed to find techniques of recycling and reuse of both the sludge and sludge water back in manufacturing of RMC. Handling sludge and sludge water is the biggest concern of all RMC plants in all the countries. As most of the ready-mix concrete plants are located in metros and Tier I cities, disposal of sludge and sludge water is the biggest challenge for all the manufacturers. Due to lack of place neither it can be dumped in open nor any one is willing to take the material. Also, it is not correct to dispose and dump it on the barren land. With this constraints renewal of consent from the Pollution Control Board has become the most challenging. Hence the topic chosen seems to need of the day for the growing country. Outcome was the design of equipment which will segregate the solids and liquids and the same is very much encouraging as this industry is producing most of the debris will turn in to no waste or zero waste industry.