Incineration bottom ash (IBA) is produced in large quantities in Europe and the Netherlands in waste incineration plants. IBA is used in low grade applications due to the existence of metallic aluminium in the ash and the leaching of potentially toxic elements. This project will address these challenges in order to upgrade IBA to high quality building material that can replace traditional cement leading to a significantly reduction in the CO2 emissions associated with the production of cement.

Different approaches will be explored, including low and high intensity crushing in specially set up equipment to remove undesirable species covering the surface of IBA particles. The IBA will then be applied as input for three different cementitious building materials: 1. As raw materials to produce an eco-binder, with the ambition to replace cement for soil stabilization; 2. Supplementary cementitious materials, where the IBA will be used as a cement substitute in mortars; 3. Stabilized soil where recycled concrete fines will be added to immobilise undesirable potentially toxic elements that could leach from the material.