NIT Trichy team helps turn legacy waste into eco-friendly paver blocks

Trichy: A team from NIT Trichy developed eco-friendly paver blocks using legacy waste extracted from the Trichy corporation's dump yard in Ariyamangalam. The team used soil-like material (SLM) recovered from waste through biomining the fabrication process of paver blocks. The NIT team is coordinating with the corporation to utilise the paver blocks in public parks on a trial basis.S T Ramesh, professor with the civil engineering department, said the innovation would eliminate the leaching of toxins into the ground and prevent groundwater contamination, thus helping in the reuse of long-accumulated municipal solid waste. Usually, SLM recovered from the dump yard is used in landfill. SLM makes up about 53% of the total legacy waste. The research team said SLM predominantly used as landfill in low-lying areas may cause soil contamination over the years. The eco-friendly paver block will contain around 15% to 20% of the material retrieved from the dump yard. The strength and performance are optimal at this proportion. "Durability study was completed. We are in the process of commercialising the SLiM eco-friendly paver block," said Ramesh, who heads the team. G Saravanan, a research fellow, and Devavarapu Chandu, an M Tech scholar, are part of the team. They fabricated a few paver blocks in partnership with the corporation and Zigma Global Environ Solutions, the company that carried out biomining at the Ariyamangalam dump site. Paver blocks made of SLM will be available at Rs 5 to 6 apiece, lower than conventional paver blocks, the team said. The team said the innovation could offer a solution for recycling and reusing of material recovered from dump yards through biomining, as Tamil Nadu has 143 dumpsites, according to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board's 2020 report.