Japanese Status on the use of Waste and By-Products in Geotechnical Applications

The current status on the use of recyclable materials in construction works in Japan, mainly in geotechnical applications, is presented in this paper. Firstly, the generation of waste and by-product materials from construction works is presented. Secondly, a classification for the by-products is made based on the type of treatment and its application. The intermediate treatment techniques for geotechnical utilization are listed along with their applicability to the construction engineering field. Among recyclable materials, the status of surplus soil, waste sludge/slurry, coal fly ash, and MSW (municipal solid waste) incinerator ash is reviewed in this paper. The potential environmental impact during the reuse of these by-products is also discussed. Lastly, the legal system in Japan concerning the use of recyclable materials is presented, including some future perspectives.