Pollution is one of the most important concerns in the 21 st century. There are four main types of pollution. They are air pollution, water pollution, soil or land pollution and noise pollution. Litter of cigarette butts contributes significantly in causing soil or land pollution. The remnants of tobacco and harmful toxic chemicals entrapped in these butts leach into soil and waterways contaminating them. These cigarette butts are made up of cellulose acetate which has poor biodegradability and it can take many years for them to break down. Degradation of cigarette butts is a very difficult and costly process. Hence, it is necessary to find a practical solution to reduce the litter of these butts. This study deals with solving the problem of litter of cigarette butts with a practical solution of incorporating them into precast concrete blocks for paving. The precast concrete blocks for paving were tested for different properties such as compressive strength, flexural strength and water absorption in order to find their suitability in construction. The precast concrete blocks for paving were casted and tested as per the specifications given in IS 15658: 2006.

The retrofitting of existing reinforced concrete beams using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) has gained significant attention as a viable solution to enhance the structural performance and extend the service life of deteriorated or under-designed structures. This study investigates the effects of CFRP retrofitting on the compressive strength of reinforced concrete beams at different curing durations. Nine beams specimens were prepared and subjected to Flextural strength testing after 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days of curing. The obtained results demonstrate a progressive increase in flextural strength over the curing period, indicating the effectiveness of the CFRP retrofitting technique in enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the beams. The study contributes to the understanding of the benefits and potential applications of CFRP retrofitting in the field of structural rehabilitation