This research evaluates the physical and mechanical properties of marginal lateritic soil and Melamine
Debris (MD) blends as a sustainable engineering fill material. Physical property tests included specific
gravity,water absorption,Atterberg limits,Los Angeles(LA) abrasion and particle-size distribution,while
mechanical property tests included California Bearing Ratio(CBR) ands welling.The results indicate that
MD as non-plastic coarse-grained and durable material (LA ¼ 11.3%) can be used as an alternative
replacement material for engineering fill materials.The MD replacement of lateritic soil reduces the fine
content and increases the abrasion resistance of the soil particles, hence the reduction in liquid limit,
plasticity index,LA abrasion and particle breakage.This physical property improvementleadstosuperior
mechanical properties (soaked CBR and swelling)with increasing MD replacement ratio as compared to
the soil alone. The proposed empirical equations for predicting soaked CBR and swelling of blends at
differentMDreplacementratiosandcompactionenergylevelsareusefulintheselectionofthesuitable
MD replacement to attain targeted mechanical property requirements. The physical and mechanical
properties of the 20% MD replacementblendwerefoundtomeettherequirementoflocalroadauthority
for engineering fill materials while the 50% MD replacement blend was at the borderline for a sub base course material.