Development of Sustainable Bricks by Utilizing Vermicompost as an Alternate Material – A Waste Created Brick

Abstract. Many different types of wastes are being generated on a daily basis which includes household waste, industrial waste, hazardous waste, construction and demolition waste etc. This generation of waste has increased enormously, and it needs to be considered as a prominent problem, as the waste management and waste disposal is not being done properly. Thus, it will lead to environmental degradation and pollution. On the other hand, over utilization of materials for construction activities leads to its extinguishing. Both scenarios will pose a threat to the environment. So, this study is carried out by utilizing vermicompost as a replacement material for red soil in the manufacturing of clay bricks. Initially, the physical properties of the raw materials are studied and the brick specimens are casted by varying vermicompost at 5, 10, 15 & 20% for red soil and they are tested for compressive strength, water absorption, loss on ignition. Among the replacements done, 10% of vermicompost for red soil gave higher strength to the bricks which is 6.23 N/mm2 higher than the control specimen. The water absorption for all the trials is found to be less than 20% as per IS 3495 part 2. The loss in weight of the bricks due to ignition is less than 15% for all the specimens manufactured. Therefore, the utilization of vermicompost will reduce the waste disposal considerably and also the cost of the bricks can be minimally reduced as waste is being incorporated in it.