Maximising the construction waste reduction potential – barriers and catalysts

Abstract

The construction sector is actively shifting from a linear to a circular approach to reduce the impacts associated with excessive raw material consumption and waste generation. According to UK statistics on waste, the construction waste disposed of at landfill sites is gradually decreasing, but the waste generation rate remains high. It becomes crucial to understand the challenges confronted by the construction industry to prevent waste arising and carbon dioxide emissions. A series of semi-structured interviews were conducted with the stakeholders related to various construction activities across the UK. The participants were selected using an expert sampling method based on their experience and knowledge about construction waste management methods, circular economy principles, digital construction technologies and legal waste policies. Based on the thematic analysis of qualitative data, four themes were created to highlight the dimensions of waste reduction approaches from the industry perspective. The themes include waste-driven designs, digital innovations in waste estimation and management, life-cycle-assessment-influenced decision-making and collaboration within the whole supply chain. This study casts significant findings in a multi-dimensional approach to support decision-makers in building a sustainable waste reduction framework for building projects.