In the heart of Lima, Peru, a groundbreaking study is turning heads in the construction industry. Isabel Moromi, a researcher from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the National University of Engineering, is leading the charge in transforming organic plant waste into sustainable building materials. Her latest findings, published in the journal Buildings, could revolutionize how we think about recycling and construction, offering a glimpse into a future where waste is not just managed, but valued.
Moromi’s research focuses on the potential of municipal organic wastes—such as orange peel, corn cob and husk, pineapple leaf, and garden grass—to be recycled into construction materials. The study, which involved substituting various percentages of sand with these organic residues in mortar mixtures, yielded promising results. Among the tested materials, garden grass stood out, exhibiting compressive strengths comparable to traditional samples after just seven days of curing.
“The idea is to find new waste alternatives and simplify treatments by reducing drying time and energy use,” Moromi explains. “We want to achieve the necessary results for structural applications while promoting a circular economy.”
The implications for the construction industry are significant. By incorporating organic waste into mortar and concrete, builders can reduce the environmental impact of their operations and decrease the exploitation of natural resources. Moromi’s study found that substituting sand with garden grass waste increased the mortar’s compressive strength by up to 7.4%, and concrete workability improved with higher proportions of sand replaced by grass waste.
“This research is not just about finding a new use for waste; it’s about creating a more sustainable future,” Moromi says. “We can reduce both the time and energy used in the drying process of the grass while achieving the necessary compressive strength for structural applications.”
The potential commercial impacts are vast. Construction companies could see significant cost savings by reducing the need for traditional aggregates. Moreover, the energy sector could benefit from the reduced energy consumption in the drying process, aligning with global efforts to lower carbon emissions.
But the story doesn’t end with garden grass. Moromi’s research opens the door to exploring other organic residues and their potential applications in construction. “We need to evaluate resistance to other stresses, particularly tensile and flexural strength, as well as long-term behavior under different exposure conditions,” she notes. “The relationship between the microscopic characteristics of the waste and the physical and mechanical behavior of the mortars and concretes incorporating it is crucial.”
As the construction industry continues to seek sustainable solutions, Moromi’s work serves as a beacon of innovation. By turning waste into valuable resources, we can build a future where sustainability and profitability go hand in hand. The journey is just beginning, but the path forward is clear: recycling organic waste for sustainable construction is not just a possibility—it’s a necessity.
The study, published in the journal Buildings, is a testament to the power of innovation and the potential of organic waste. As we look to the future, Moromi’s research offers a blueprint for a more sustainable and responsible construction industry. The question is not if we can do it, but when.