How BSRM turns steel waste into eco-friendly construction material | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 19, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2025
How BSRM turns steel waste into eco-friendly construction material

Environment

Jobaer Chowdhury
05 June, 2023, 11:45 am
Last modified: 05 June, 2023, 01:13 pm

Related News

  • Let the businesses sustain, wealthy people invest
  • BSRM hosts architecture conference Architecture: Where to Go
  • BSRM hosts “Architecture: Where to Go”: A visionary platform for the future of design
  • BRAC University and BSRM inaugurate BSRM School of Engineering
  • Water getting scarce for Chattogram industries

How BSRM turns steel waste into eco-friendly construction material

Jobaer Chowdhury
05 June, 2023, 11:45 am
Last modified: 05 June, 2023, 01:13 pm

An initiative by the country's leading steel producer is leading the way to convert the waste generated in the steelmaking process into eco-friendly construction material as an alternative to bricks, which industry insiders say will greatly help reduce stress on the environment. 

Steelmaking involves melting scraps into billets. During the process, a soil-like but solid waste called steel slag (induction furnace slag) is generated. This waste, when dumped in the environment, threatens biodiversity and reduces land fertility. 

However, Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills (BSRM) has turned this slag into a commercial product after nearly a decade of effort.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

A research conducted by the Islamic University of Technology found that a 35% reduction in the CO2 footprint of concrete can be achieved by fully replacing brick with slag, with at least a 30% reduction in cost.

"Replacement of brick aggregate (chips) by IFS (steel slag) enhances concrete mechanical performance and workability compared to 100% brick aggregate concrete," the research report said.

According to BSRM, a crusher machine breaks slags into various sizes. Currently, the company is producing at least three types of slag gravel which are being used as an alternative to brick and stone chips.

The company used pavement blocks made of slags as an alternative to crushed bricks in road construction in its factory complexes and hollow blocks made from slag were used for building walls. 

Besides, a fine sand-like material that comes out during slag crushing has been used in road dividers instead of sand, the company said. 

Besides, it can be used as railway stones, BSRM said.

The initiative is more pertinent today as Bangladesh will be observing World Environment Day on Monday amid ever-increasing industrial pollution and environmental catastrophes in the country.

BSRM's steel slag history

In 2012, BSRM took the initiative to work with slags. Also, Buet's Civil Engineering Department was engaged to look into the utility of the material. In 2016, work on slags officially began.  

In 2017, BSRM's two factories installed crusher machines to break down slags and pavement and hollow blocks were successfully produced in 2018. 

In 2020, the government gave permission to use the material for road construction.

Currently, BSRM processes slag at four plants including two at Nasirabad Industrial Area, and two at Bhatiari and Mirsharai.

Among these, two crusher machines have been installed in two factories to break the slag at the cost of about Tk6 crore.

BSRM now produces around 1.20 lakh tonnes of slag each year, 100% of which is used as construction material. 

BSRM received the "SDG Brand Champion Awards 2023"' for their initiative. 

BSRM receiving the SDG Brand Championship Awards 2023 for Responsible Consumption and Production. Photo: Courtesy
BSRM receiving the SDG Brand Championship Awards 2023 for Responsible Consumption and Production. Photo: Courtesy

Slag gravel in Manikganj road

BSRM jointly undertook a pilot project with Bangladesh Road Research Laboratory to use steel slag instead of concrete in road construction in 2021.

Under the project, slag gravel was used for constructing a 100-metre section of Golora-Saturia road in Manikganj. 

The research agency's Director Ahsan Habib told The Business Standard that they found the road in good condition during an inspection after one year of construction.

"We are planning to use the material on a large scale and it is being added to the list as an alternative to other construction materials," Ahsan Habib added.

Environment and affordability

To meet the growing demand, a total of 5,000 brick kilns across the country produce 12 billion clay-burnt bricks annually.

In contrast, slags are generated during steel production. Then it is broken by crusher machines only. 

According to BSRM, steel slag is better as construction materials because its water absorption capacity is 2% against 13% for brick aggregate. 

The average price per cubic foot of brick aggregate is Tk120, stone aggregate Tk200 and slag aggregate Tk70 in the current market.

BSRM Deputy Managing Director Tapan Sengupta told TBS, "Our steel slag is being recycled 100%. Slag is used in our own factory basement and factory road in Mirshrai."

New possibilities

Steelmakers in Bangladesh produce 7.5 million tonnes of steel annually, according to industry insiders. 

About 40kg-70kg of slag is produced against each tonne of steel. As such, about 4.50 lakh tonnes of steel slag is produced in this sector.

Only BSRM converts this waste into usable materials while the rest dumps it as waste. 

The selling price of BSRM's slag Tk1,700 to Tk1,750 per tonne.

With this, if the entire sector recycles slag, the initial market will stand at around Tk80 crore.

Hussaini T Fakhri, managing director of Fakhris Green Building Resource Limited told TBS, "As we produce environment-friendly building products, we use steel slag as an aggregate instead of stones to reduce the carbon footprint."

"It is also cost-effective for us and steel slag does not negatively impact the quality of the finished product," he added.

Economy / Top News

BSRM / Steel waste

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • A drone photo shows the damage over residential homes at the impact site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 16, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Moshe Mizrahi/File Photo
    Israel says hospital struck by Iranian missiles as Trump weighs US involvement
  • Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher talks to reporters in Dhaka on 18 June 2025. Photo: Focus Bangla
    Local govt elections must be held under caretaker govt: Jamaat nayeb-e-ameer
  • Missiles launched from Iran are intercepted as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
    Explainer: How did Iran manage to pierce through Israel’s air defence systems?

MOST VIEWED

  • Logo of Beximco Group. Photo: Collected
    Beximco defaults on €33m in Germany, Deshbandhu owes Czech bank €4m
  • The India-Bangladesh integrated checkpost in Fulbari. Photo: Passang Yolmo via Telegraph India
    Import of boulders from Bhutan to Bangladesh stopped by Indian transporters in Fulbari
  • Infograph: TBS
    End of a loophole: Defaulters on foreign loans barred from local bank borrowing
  • Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on the IRIB building, the country's state broadcaster, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
    Israel-Iran War: Russia says Israel's attacks illegal, UAE warns of 'uncalculated, reckless steps'
  • An anti-missile system operates as missiles are launched from Iran, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 June 2025. Photo: Reuters
    Khamenei rejects Trump's demand for surrender, Trump says 'good luck'
  • Soldiers salute Arakan Army chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing during a parade in Myanmar, 6 April 2018. File Photo: Arakan Army deputy chief Brig Gen Nyo Twan Awng/Twitter
    Rohingya militant groups recruit from camps to fight Arakan Army, warns Crisis Group

Related News

  • Let the businesses sustain, wealthy people invest
  • BSRM hosts architecture conference Architecture: Where to Go
  • BSRM hosts “Architecture: Where to Go”: A visionary platform for the future of design
  • BRAC University and BSRM inaugurate BSRM School of Engineering
  • Water getting scarce for Chattogram industries

Features

Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

17h | Panorama
The Kallyanpur Canal is burdened with more than 600,000 kilograms of waste every month. Photo: Courtesy

Kallyanpur canal project shows how to combat plastic pollution in Dhaka

1d | Panorama
The GLS600 overall has a curvaceous nature, with seamless blends across every panel. PHOTO: Arfin Kazi

Mercedes Maybach GLS600: Definitive Luxury

3d | Wheels
Renowned authors Imdadul Haque Milon, Mohit Kamal, and poet–children’s writer Rashed Rouf seen at Current Book Centre, alongside the store's proprietor, Shahin. Photo: Collected

From ‘Screen and Culture’ to ‘Current Book House’: Chattogram’s oldest surviving bookstore

3d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Is Israel’s air defense system running out?

Is Israel’s air defense system running out?

19m | Others
Iran's Missile Range: How Far Can Tehran's Weapons Strike?

Iran's Missile Range: How Far Can Tehran's Weapons Strike?

49m | Others
Will the US be able to overthrow the Iranian government? What does history say?

Will the US be able to overthrow the Iranian government? What does history say?

2h | TBS World
From Local to Global: The World Burns in the Fire of Conflict

From Local to Global: The World Burns in the Fire of Conflict

4h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net