Abstract An industrial scale investigation into the effects of oily wastes incorporated into different red ceramic products for building construction was carried out for the first time. The oily wastes were a crude sludge derived from petroleum separation process and its inert treated form. Into clayey for brick and tile production were incorporated up to 5% by wt. of these oily wastes. The results showed that practically no change occurred in the main technological properties required to specify porous red ceramic products. On the other hand, the workability of the unfired material for extrusion may be affected and, in some cases, even improved by the oily waste incorporation.