Don Urges Federal Government to Enact Law Mandating Recycling of Non-Biodegradable Waste in Construction

As FUNAAB Hosts 107th Inaugural Lecture

By Olasunkanmi Olajide, Emeka Oluka & Joy Adeyiga

Professor Joseph Akinyele, a leading expert in Civil Engineering Structures at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has called on the Nigerian Federal Government to urgently enact legislation requiring the recycling of non-biodegradable waste for use in construction materials. He emphasized that such a law is vital for environmental protection and the nation’s sustainable development.

Presenting the university’s 107th inaugural lecture titled “From Waste to Strength: The Power of Geopolymer, Rubberized, and Plastic Waste Concretes for a Cleaner Environment,” Prof. Akinyele highlighted innovative alternatives to traditional construction materials that leverage waste products to reduce environmental degradation.

His groundbreaking research revealed that geopolymer concrete—an eco-friendly substitute for Portland cement—offers higher compressive strength and improved resistance to destructive chemical agents such as sulphate and chloride ions. These ions often cause the rapid deterioration of reinforced concrete structures.

Prof. Akinyele also detailed the transformative potential of incorporating waste materials like tyres, PET plastics, and glass into construction products. According to his findings, plastic waste can replace up to 20% of aggregate in concrete mixtures, while rubber can substitute 16%, without compromising durability or safety. Furthermore, burnt bricks can safely include up to 5% glass and 3% plastic waste by weight.

Linking his call to global climate commitments, he pointed out that enforcing recycling in construction aligns with Nigeria’s responsibility under Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). He also advocated for the wider use of metakaolin—a supplementary cementitious material that can replace 20% of cement in concrete—thus lowering energy use and reducing carbon dioxide emissions during cement clinker production.

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In his lecture, Prof. Akinyele appealed for increased government and private sector investment in scientific research, the modernization of laboratory facilities, and the creation of a world-class Central Engineering Workshop at FUNAAB to foster innovation in the construction sector.

Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, praised Prof. Akinyele for his significant academic and practical contributions, highlighting his extensive portfolio of over 60 publications and involvement in key infrastructural projects nationwide.

This lecture comes at a critical time when Nigeria faces escalating environmental challenges and the urgent need to adopt sustainable construction practices to mitigate the impacts of climate change