Recycling wastes to develop permeable blocks

Waste management has become a significant challenge for developing countries, driven by urbanization and increased per capita waste generation. Recycling has been recognized as an effective solution to reduce waste by transforming it into value-added products. However, less than 20% of global waste has been recycled, indicating that waste hierarchy principles and circular economy approaches have not yet made a substantial impact. In the construction sector, several innovative practices have been explored, including the adoption of advanced technologies for waste reduction, the use of alternative materials, and the application of concepts like life cycle assessments and circular economy strategies. Globally, municipal solid waste generation has been projected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050, with the construction sector contributing around 31%. Efforts have been made to recycle construction and demolitionwaste, such as concrete aggregates, waste bricks, and industrial by-products like fly ash, as partial replacements for cement and aggregates. Permeable pavements have emerged as a sustainable solution in urban areas, enabling runoff water to infiltrate and recharge groundwater. This paper has summarized the development of permeable paver systems, highlighting recent advancements using waste materials. It has discussed their potential and suggested that waste-derived pervious blocks could play a key role in building a sustainable future.