A　sustainable　solution　to　utilize　the　paper/wood　industry　waste　as　a　construction　material　is　presented　in　this　article.　A　novel　technique　of　coupling　lignosulphonate　(LS)　with　hydrated　lime　(LM)　is　adopted　to　mitigate　the　short　comings　of　lignosulphonate　as　an　expansive　soil　stabilizer.　A　detailed　experimental　study　was　performed　on　the　proposed　composite　binary　admixture　(CBA)　to　ameliorate　the　geotechnical　properties　of　expansive　soil.　The　optimum　binary　admixture　(OBA)　was　determined　on　the　basis　of　plasticity　index.　For　the　better　apprehension,　and　further　verification　of　optimum　binary　admixture,　the　performance　of　lignosulphonate　was　individually　assessed　at　various　percentages　(0.4%,　0.875%　and　2%)　and　in　combination　with　different　percentages　of　lime　(2.625%,　3.82%,　5%,　6.5%　and　9%).　Various　geotechnical　properties,　such　as　plasticity,　swelling,　shrinkage,　strength　and　hydraulic　conductivity　were　analyzed　based　on　the　test　results.　Stabilization　mechanism　was　assesed　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　scanning　electrone　microscope　(SEM).　Results　showed　that　using　composite　binary　admixture　as　a　stabilizer　exhibits　better　amelioration　of　geotechnical　properties　of　expansive　soil　than　using　lignosulphonate　alone.　Whereas,　the　optimum　value　of　the　composite　binary　admixture　was　determined　to　be　3.5%　to　adequately　stabilize　the　expansive　soil.　During　the　stabilization　process,　the　intrinsic　structure　of　clay　mineral　was　observed　to　be　destructed　and　resulted　in　the　formation　of　a　more　stable　structure,　owing　to　the　ability　of　the　added　admixture　to　trigger　the　intermolecular　interaction　and　chemical　reaction　with　the　clay　minerals.　Overall,　lignosulphonate　addition　reduces　the　lime　consumption　in　expansive　soil　stabilization　and　also　provides　a　sustainable　solution　in　curtailing　the　industrial　waste.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.