Construction materials need to be observed through a lifetime carbon footprint. Due to the high greenhouse gas emissions from cement production, the lack of natural raw materials such as sand, a significant increase of WBA and the problem of its disposal, there has been a serious disturbance of the ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage the use of production processes that consume less materials and energy, use waste-free resources, and include full recycling at the end of the product’s life. One of the possible solutions is the use of locally available wood biomass ash as a substitute for cement or sand in concrete mixes for non-structural precast concrete products. To achieve this goal, the relevant mechanical and durability properties of concrete products - kerbs and drainage channels, were investigated by replacing cement or fine aggregate with 15% of WBA and comparing it to a reference mixture without WBA. For this study, 5 different types of WBAs were collected from biomass power plants in the Republic of Croatia. This paper presents the effects of WBAs on the mechanical properties and durability of concrete products, which represents a possible more environmentally friendly alternative for industrial waste recycling compared to existing waste management options.

wood biomass ash; precast concrete elements; innovative construction products; kerb; drainage channels