<p>With increasing amounts of sewage sludge (SS) every year, the treatment of sewage SS and sewage sludge ash (SSA) has become an urgent and inevitable issue worldwide. The use of these wastes in building bricks seems to be an alternative solution. The main oxides in SS and SSA are the same as those in clay, such as SiO₂ (10.00%–45.00%), CaO (5.00%–15.00%), Al₂O₃ (10.00%–15.00%) and Fe₂O₃ (5.00%–15.00%), indicating that these wastes have potential for building bricks. By investigating the various uses of SS, an increase of up to 20.00% in utilization can be achieved. A high incineration temperature enhances the stable performance of SSA, increasing the amount of SSA added to bricks. Moreover, mixing agricultural and industrial wastes, which contain low moisture contents or high silica contents, can improve the thermal insulation performance or mechanical strength of bricks. The performance of additive directionally modified bricks has expanded the use of bricks. The solidification of heavy metals by SS avoids secondary pollution of the environment. Finally, the above innovative studies provide suggestions for future high-value production.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>