This article deals with the use of photovoltaic panels at the end of their life cycle in cement composites. Attention is focused on the properties of cement composite after 100% replacement of natural aggregate with recycled glass from photovoltaic panels. This goal of replacing natural filler sources with recycled glass is based on the updated policy of the Czech Republic concerning secondary raw materials for the period of 2019–2022, which aims to increase the self-sufficiency of the Czech Republic in raw materials by replacing primary sources with secondary raw materials. The policy also promotes the use of secondary raw materials as a tool to reduce the material and energy demands of industrial production and supports the innovations and development of a circular economy within business. The research has shown that it is possible to prepare cement composite based on recycled glass from solar panels, with compressive and flexural strength after 28 days exceeding 40 MPa and 4 MPa. Furthermore, a possible modification of the cement composite with different pigments has been confirmed, without disrupting the contact zone.

This article describes an experimental study aimed at investigating the potential use of recycled rubber granulate from waste tires of fractions 0/1 and 1/3 mm in cement composites as a 100% replacement for natural aggregates. The use of waste in the development and production of new building materials represents an important aspect for the sustainability and protection of the environment. This article is focused on the sound-absorbing and thermal-insulating properties of experimental cement composites based on recycled rubber from waste tires. The article describes the grain characteristics of recycled rubber, sound absorption capacity, thermal conductivity and strength characteristics. The results of this research show that the total replacement of natural aggregate with recycled rubber in cement composites is possible. Replacing natural aggregate with recycled rubber has significantly improved the thermal and acoustic properties of the prepared cement composites, however, at the same time; there was also the expected decrease in the strength characteristics due to the elasticity of rubber.

This article presents the results of experimental research on the possible use of construction and demolition waste (CDW) to improve the properties of unburnt tailings originating from the thermally active spoil heap in Heřmanice (Ostrava, Czech Republic). Mining activity anywhere in the world generally entails a lot of negative impacts on the environment, which are of a long-term nature. One of the most pressing challenges in the remediation of the consequences of mining activity is the thermal activity of spoil heaps associated with the high acidity of the tailings. Active acidity (pH/H₂O), exchangeable acidity (pH/CaCl₂), hydrolytic acidity (H_a), and elemental composition of tailings and CDW have been monitored. Based on an acidity study, it has been proven that compared to burnt tailings (pH/H₂O = 8.4, pH/CaCl₂ = 8.9 and H_a = 1.4 mmol kg⁻¹), unburnt tailings show acidic properties (pH/H₂O = 3.7, pH/CaCl₂ = 3.6 and H_a = 205 mmol kg⁻¹). The bioavailability of two selected potentially toxic elements (PTEs), namely Al and Fe, was examined based on the elemental composition. BCR sequential extraction analysis was used to determine their bioavailability. It has been proven that mixing CDW with tailings has a positive effect on the pH value, which has a positive effect on the further development of the entire site. The increase in the pH value is provably dependent on the amount of construction waste added, so it can be said that the increasing amount of construction waste will result in improved parameters of the burnt tailings. The results of the BCR analysis show that aluminum from the tailings will be released both from the reducible and oxidisable fractions, where it will be mainly bound to sulphides. The relatively high concentration of Fe in the oxidisable fraction (2002 mg Fe kg⁻¹) suggests that Fe is bound to sulphides in the tailings, and it is due to the high residual pyrite and sulphide content in the dumped material, as expected. This work has found no limits where CDW no longer positively affects the acidity of unburnt tailings. For practical application, however, it is important that the mixture of CDW and tailings is properly mixed and then used for remediation.

This article describes the results of an experimental research focused on the preparation of cement composite with 100% replacement of natural aggregates with recycled glass from photovoltaic panels. The prepared cement composites were subjected to the tests of physical-mechanical properties and the surface treatment process (polishing) in laboratory and in pilot plant conditions. An image analysis of the treated surface of the cement composites treated using the polishing process has demonstrated the feasibility of this method of treatment without disrupting the surface structure of this non-traditional cement composite. The actual surface treatment process has been tested in both laboratory and pilot plant conditions.