GROUP 1
WTE Fly Ash
WTE fly ash is the product of burning municipal solid waste in a Waste-to-Energy incinerator. Its main components include , , , , along with some heavy metals. High pozzolanic activity — the ability to react with to form C-S-H gel — is the scientific basis for its use in construction materials.
GROUP 2
Coal Fly Ash
Fly ash from coal-fired power plants (FA) is the world's most common pozzolanic material, standardized under ASTM C618 (Class F and C). FA replaces 15–40% of OPC cement in concrete and non-fired bricks, increasing sulfate resistance, reducing hydration heat, and improving product density.
ProtectGD VN produces non-fired bricks from 100% fly ash aggregate, with a cost far lower than traditional fired clay bricks, helping realize the government’s policy to replace fired clay bricks.
GROUP 3
Construction & Demolition Debris (C&D)
C&D debris includes demolished concrete, broken bricks, and cement mortar from demolition, renovation, or new construction projects. After crushing and screening, recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) meets the standards to replace natural aggregate in block bricks, sidewalk paving bricks, and drainage components.
Global: ~9,000,000 tons/day (~3,300 million tons/year) — the largest among all solid waste types. Vietnam: 25,000–35,000 tons/day, rising sharply as metro lines and expressways are developed
Lowest legal barrier
Lowest barrier among the 8 groups.
Negative cost
Project owners pay to dispose of it.
Evenly distributed
Across all major cities.
GROUP 4
Mining Tailings
Tailings are mineral slurries left over after ore beneficiation (copper, iron, gold, titanium...). This is the ESG-challenged waste group with the most severe global issues after the Brumadinho tailings dam disaster (Brazil, 2019), which killed 270 people. Mining companies are under intense pressure to process more than 180 billion tons of tailings accumulated worldwide.
The chemical composition is stable, rich in silica and metal oxides, making it highly suitable as an ingredient for high-compressive-strength bricks and underground backfill materials.
GROUP 5
Metallurgical Slag
Blast furnace slag (BFS) and electric arc furnace slag (EAF slag) are by-products of the steel and aluminum industries. GGBFS, once finely ground, has latent hydraulic activity — it binds when activated by alkali or cement, replacing 30–70% of OPC cement in high-end concrete. EN 15167 and ASTM C989 standards apply globally. This is the most consistent and easiest-to-control raw material in all 8 groups.
GROUP 6
Red Mud
Red mud is a highly alkaline waste (pH 12–13) from the Bayer process used to produce alumina. Main components: (40–50%), (15–25%), (10–15%). The high alumina and silica content provides the scientific basis for producing clinker-free Geopolymer cement — with emissions 80% lower than OPC.
ProtectGD technology combines neutralized red mud with GGBFS and fly ash to synthesize Geopolymer binders, fully replacing Portland cement in fire-resistant bricks and infrastructure components resistant to salt and chemicals.
Group 7 & 8 — Glass, Ceramics & Crushed Stone
Glass & Ceramic Waste
Flat glass, packaging glass, waste solar panel glass, sanitary ceramics, and discarded tiles contain very high content (65–75%). Combined with geopolymer additives, fly ash, blast furnace slag, and alkaline activators, they produce geopolymer structures with compressive strength of 35–60 MPa.
Vietnam: ~1.1 million tons/year. Global: ~140 million tons/year — only 34% of glass is currently recycled.
Fine Crushed Stone (Quarry Fines)
Byproduct accounting for 15–20% of output at every stone crushing plant. The most geographically widespread feedstock — almost every province has stone quarries. Negative raw material cost: quarry operators actively pay to move inventory offsite.
Vietnam: ~24 million tons/year. Global: ~980 million tons/year — corresponding to 16 billion tons/year of stone production.
PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY
3 Types of Construction Bricks from Waste
1
Geopolymer Non-fired Brick
WTE fly ash + thermal power plant ash + GGBFS + alkali activator. Strength 15–35 MPa. No kiln firing — reduces emissions by 70–80%. Standards: TCVN 6477, QCVN 16:2023/BXD.
2
Recycled Aggregate Concrete Brick
C&D debris + thermal power plant ash + Geopolymer additives. Strength 10–40 MPa. Costs 40–60% less than traditional concrete bricks. Used for masonry bricks, paving blocks, and saline-resistant components.
3
Premium Slag-Based Brick
GGBFS + EAF Slag + Tailings. Strength 25–50 MPa. Superior sulfate and chloride resistance — suitable for marine environments, tunnels, and saline-affected projects.
FEATURED PRODUCT
Clinker-Free Geopolymer Cement
Solves the CO₂ emissions problem of the cement industry — an industry responsible for 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Synthesized from aluminosilicates (neutralized red mud + fly ash + GGBFS) and alkaline activators (NaOH 8–12M + sodium silicate).
