Assessment of wastes used as gabion filling for lining works of a river located in Brazil

This research focuses on the technical and economic assessment of construction and demolition wastes (C&DW) as filling material for gabions executed for lining works of a river in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Laboratory tests were performed on C&DW and natural rock to determine the durability, compressive strength, and water absorption necessary for gabion designs. In addition, an economic assessment was performed to estimate the costs of using C&DW to substitute rocks for gabion filling. The results showed that the studied C&DW complies with the technical standards and can be used as gabion-filling material, thus promoting a circular economy. However, due to the hydraulic efforts, a layer of shotcrete must be applied on the gabion surface. The economic assessment highlighted the economic advantages and low costs of substituting rocks for C&DW in gabions filling, even considering the need for a shotcrete layer.