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From Ashes to Infrastructure: On-Site Validation of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Ashes as a Building Material for Pavements and Cement-Based Prefabricated Elements
De las cenizas a la infraestructura: validación en campo del uso de cenizas de incineración de residuos sólidos urbanos como material de construcción para pavimentos y elementos prefabricados a base de cemento
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.120866Keywords:
waste management, incineration wastes, rigid pavement, granular subbase, cement-based precast elements (en)gestión de residuos, residuos de incineración, pavimento rígido, subbase granular, prefabricados de cemento (es)
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Municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA) has potential to reduce landfill disposal and the consumption of virgin aggregates in construction. However, field-scale evidence supporting its use in the construction industry remains limited. This study evaluates the field performance of MSWI-BA, locally termed municipal solid waste incineration slag (MSWI-SL), in three construction applications on San Andrés Island, Colombia: rigid pavement (with MSWI-SL as (1) granular subbase and (2) concrete aggregate for the rolling layer) and cement-based precast elements (with MSWI-SL as (3) aggregate). The island provides a relevant real-scale demonstration setting because limited land availability, constrained waste-disposal capacity, and dependence on imported materials increase the need for circular material-management strategies. The applications were monitored for up to 308 days through mechanical testing, verification of applicable technical specifications, and pavement-condition assessment. The MSWI-SL subbase showed sustained bearing-capacity performance, while pavement concrete achieved adequate flexural strength and maintained a stable pavement condition index during the monitoring period. Precast elements incorporating MSWI-SL as fine aggregate also exhibited satisfactory flexural and compressive performance at different ages, demonstrating the feasibility of replacing up to 100% of conventional fine aggregate in the mixtures evaluated. Nevertheless, curing procedures should be adequately controlled to ensure timely compliance with technical requirements. The results provide field-derived evidence that properly characterized and controlled MSWI-BA can be used as an alternative granular material in road infrastructure and cement-based precast products. Beyond the local setting, the findings can support circular construction strategies in isolated territories and other regions seeking to reduce MSWI residue disposal and dependence on natural aggregates.
La ceniza de fondo proveniente de la incineración de residuos sólidos urbanos (MSWI-BA) tiene potencial para reducir la disposición en rellenos sanitarios y el consumo de agregados convencionales en el sector construcción. Sin embargo, la evidencia a escala de campo que respalde su uso en el mencionado sector sigue siendo limitada. Este estudio evalúa el desempeño en campo de la MSWI-BA, denominada localmente escoria (MSWI-SL), en tres aplicaciones constructivas en la isla de San Andrés, Colombia: en pavimento rígido, utilizando MSWI-SL como (1) subbase granular y (2) agregado para el concreto de la capa de rodadura; y elementos prefabricados a base de cemento, utilizando MSWI-SL como (3) agregado. La isla constituye un escenario relevante de piloto a escala real, debido a que la disponibilidad limitada de terreno, la restringida capacidad de disposición de residuos y la dependencia de materiales importados incrementan allí la necesidad de estrategias de gestión circular de materiales. Las aplicaciones fueron monitoreadas durante períodos de hasta 308 días mediante ensayos mecánicos, verificación del cumplimiento de especificaciones técnicas aplicables y evaluación de la condición del pavimento. La subbase con MSWI-SL mostró una capacidad portante sostenida, mientras que el concreto del pavimento alcanzó una resistencia a flexión satisfactoria y mantuvo un índice de condición del pavimento estable durante el período de monitoreo. Los elementos prefabricados que incorporaron MSWI-SL como agregado fino también presentaron desempeños satisfactorios a flexión y compresión a diferentes edades, demostrando viabilidad para reemplazar hasta el 100% del agregado fino convencional en las mezclas evaluadas. No obstante, los procedimientos de curado deben controlarse adecuadamente para asegurar el cumplimiento oportuno de los requisitos técnicos. Los resultados aportan evidencia obtenida en campo de que la MSWI-BA, debidamente caracterizada y controlada, puede utilizarse como material granular alternativo en infraestructura vial y en productos prefabricados a base de cemento. Más allá del contexto local, los hallazgos pueden respaldar estrategias de construcción circular en territorios insulares y otras regiones que busquen reducir la disposición de residuos de incineración y la dependencia de agregados naturales.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Julian Carmona-Ramírez, Francisco D. Cabrera Poloche, Carlos A. Bedoya Henao, Isabella Taborda Llano, Gustavo A. Viana-Casas, Óscar J. Restrepo-Baena, Jorge I. Tobón
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