A Study on Public Opinion of Structural Concrete Blocks Incorporated with Ornamental Stone Residue

Abstract

The municipal area of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, state of Espirito Santo, Brazil, is a major producer of ornamental stones. The sawing process of these stones generates a considerable amount of residues, which is disposed in open air piles, contributing to pollution and landscape degradation. A current solution being investigated for these residues is their incorporation into civil construction products such as clayey ceramics, lining mortars and concrete blocks. However, this incorporation is still subjected to doubt not only by the producers in the industry but also the intermediate seller as well as the final consumer. In order to verify the degree of personal acceptance of concrete structural blocks incorporated with ornamental stone residue, a field poll was conducted by means of questionnaires for inquiring the three directly related segments. The results showed distinct degrees of acceptance, especially by the sellers who fear rejection by the consumer. The acceptance of the residue incorporated block was, in some cases, positive as long as supported by a research work conducted in R&D centers and Universities.