Enhancing Construction and Demolition Waste Management Using SWOT and Quantification Systems

Abstract. The purpose of the article is to study the global experience of regulatory and legal regulation of construction and demolition waste management to determine measures to ensure the use of secondary raw materials from construction waste in Ukraine for the restoration of objects damaged and destroyed as a result of military actions and the construction of new buildings. The results of the study of the experience of developed countries regarding the attraction of construction and demolition waste for reuse and processing into secondary raw materials are presented. Analytical studies have established that Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and the Council provides for a target increase by 2020 of the share of non-hazardous construction waste prepared for reuse and recycling to at least 70% by weight, as well as promotion of recycling by selective removal of materials and creation of sorting systems. The direct requirements of the regulatory and legal regulation of construction waste management during the construction of facilities are outlined. In some states, direct requirements for handling construction waste have been established: in new construction, a certain percentage of products from recycled waste must be used; ban on landfills for construction waste that can be used for processing into secondary raw materials; the minimum area of buildings, during the construction of which mandatory disposal of waste is regulated; the minimum volumes of construction work are legally defined, the excess of which determines the need for builders to sort and process construction and demolition waste. The lack of specific target indicators for the collection, sorting, processing of construction and demolition waste, as well as the use of secondary raw materials obtained from them, was emphasized in the normative legal acts of Ukraine on waste management.

The circular economy (CE) concept presents an innovative solution, aiming to transform the traditional linear system into a regenerative system. Thus, it is considered as a potential means of addressing the limitations in construction and demolition (C&D) waste management (WM) practices. However, the lack of clarification among stakeholders regarding the application of CE is one of the significant problems in introducing CE practices to the construction industry. Thus, this research aims to develop a framework for CE-based C&D WM via stakeholder engagement (SE). Through a qualitative approach, data were collected through preliminary interviews, case studies, and a focus group, analysed via content and thematic analysis. Exploring the SE link, key mechanisms to integrate CE-based C&D WM in construction projects are revealed. The proposed SE framework promotes sustainable construction, offering stakeholders definitive guidelines for incorporating CE principles. In an industry with significant waste and environmental concerns, a CE focus on resource optimisation and waste reduction is crucial and influential.

The construction industry is known as one of the biggest generators of solid waste. Considering this, attention needs to be paid to construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Lebanon has experienced many situations that have increased the generation of C&D waste. Therefore, it is essential to manage C&D waste. This research aims to assess and analyse the importance of waste management plans and their impact on the generation of construction and demolition waste in Lebanon. For this purpose, an extensive literature review has been carried out, and a questionnaire survey consisting of five sections has been developed. Factors were ranked by using 5-point Likert scales. Additionally, four optional open-ended questions were also included in the survey for qualitative data collection. A survey questionnaire was sent to 80 Lebanese experts, and 50 questionnaires were returned. Most of the responses (i.e., consultants and academics) were from the private sector; results showed that respondents to this survey were biased for their expertise. Reliability and ranking analysis were performed on the collected data. It was found that “site management and supervision-related factors” are the main sources of C&D waste. The main barrier to implement 3R was the “lack of awareness and knowledge”, and the most critical success factor was “waste management regulations”. There is lack of data on construction waste in Lebanon. Therefore, there is a need to conduct research on construction waste management in Lebanon, which is the subject of the current investigation. This research is expected to generate benefits for the construction industry in Lebanon and the surrounding region.

The construction industry is the major solid waste generator in the world. For the national sustainable development strategy, construction and demolition (C&D) waste management is very important and has become one of hottest research topic in recent years. Successfully managing C&D waste has a significant impact for Hong Kong's due to the limited land resource. This paper begins with a brief review of C&D waste in Hong Kong. Then, the current measures for waste management adopted in Hong Kong are analyzed. Some strategic plans for better performance of waste management are suggested based on a critical study of the C&D waste management in Hong Kong. It is hoped the experience in Hong Kong also can provide some useful information for Mainland China in C&D management.

Seven-dimensional automated construction waste quantification and management framework: Integration with project and site planning

The issue of sustainability has long been the subject of interest in architecture engineering and the construction sector. All three aspects of sustainability—economic, environmental, and social—can be affected through appropriate construction waste management. Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is one of the largest worldwide waste streams, therefore, it is given great attention by all stakeholders (investors, contractors, authorities, etc.). Research studies show that one of the main barriers to insufficient CDW recovery is inadequate policies and legal frameworks to manage CDW. It is also one of European Union’s (EU) environmental priorities. The aim of the article was to confirm the economic potential of construction and demolition waste audit processing through a case study. A pre-demolition waste audit was processed for an unused shopping center building in the town Snina in Slovakia. Subsequently, a comparison of economic parameters (waste disposal costs and transport costs) of the recommended CDW management was performed. This comparison confirmed the economic benefits of environmentally friendly construction waste management methods according to the waste audit results, which would also increase the sustainability of construction projects. Additionally, the cost parameters of selected waste disposal methods could be another dimension of building information modeling.

The construction sector generates a substantial proportion of Australia’s total solid waste, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable and circular resource management approaches to mitigate environmental impacts. This study evaluates the environmental performance and circularity potential of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) management across five Australian states. Three representative building cases were modelled using both national-average and state-specific recycling rates and electricity generation mixes. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted to compare two end-of-life pathways: landfill and recycling. Key parameters, including transport distance and substitution ratio, were also examined to assess their influence on carbon outcomes. The results show that regional variations in electricity generation mix and recycling rate have a strong influence on the total Global Warming Potential of C&DW management. States with cleaner electricity grids and higher recycling rates, such as South Australia, exhibited notably lower recycling-related emissions than those relying on fossil-fuel-based power. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating regional characteristics into sustainability assessments of C&DW management and provide practical insights to support Australia’s transition toward a circular and low-carbon construction industry.

An excessive amount of construction and demolition waste is generated in construction projects daily. To avoid negative environmental externalities and to promote sustainability, it is necessary for the construction industry to improve its waste management practices at a project level. Analyzing large volumes of waste generation data created in construction projects can provide a valuable opportunity to extract actionable insights. In this research, construction projects were selected, and three different data mining techniques were applied with the objectives of (1) predicting the future volume of diverted waste based on the amount of waste generation of major materials; and (2) identifying trends of waste generation in different construction stages of the projects. Specifically, to achieve these objectives, this study applies multiple regression, artificial neural network, and clustering algorithms. Notably, this study contributes to the existing construction waste management body of knowledge by demonstrating the application of different data mining techniques to predict future waste diversion and extract actionable insights at the project level that help promote sustainability and waste reduction. Furthermore, this study allows industry practitioners to better manage construction waste by understanding patterns of waste generation according to different phases of the project, and predicting amounts of waste for diversion.

This study provides a qualitative comparative assessment of the Circular Economy (CE) framework and the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS) as emerging approaches for improving construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in Algeria. The research aims to examine the advantages, limitations, and contextual applicability of both systems, and to explore their potential integration into a coherent sustainability model suited to the Algerian construction sector. A descriptive–comparative qualitative methodology was adopted, combining a systematic literature review, a case study of Algeria, and expert input collected from 21 professionals representing engineering, environmental management, and policy sectors. Data were analysed thematically and synthesised using a structured SWOT matrix. Findings show that CE offers strong potential for resource efficiency, waste minimisation, and job creation, yet remains constrained by limited recycling infrastructure and high initial investment requirements. In contrast, the GPRS provides measurable sustainability criteria at the project level and strengthens energy and resource efficiency, but suffers from low national adoption, limited professional capacity, and competition from global rating systems. Results also indicate that integrating CE’s macro-level material circularity with GPRS’s micro-level performance standards could enhance environmental outcomes and support Algeria’s transition toward sustainable construction practices. The study recommends expanding recycling infrastructure, developing regulatory incentives for green construction, localising GPRS criteria for the Algerian context, and adopting a hybrid CE–GPRS implementation roadmap to advance national CDW management strategies.

The European Union has issued action plans to reduce the production of construction waste and increase the reuse and recycling of materials in the hope of triggering a rapid transition towards a Circular Economy (CE). The management of construction and demolition waste, however, struggles to apply these measures. Our purpose, therefore, is to analyse how different actors involved in the management of waste could contribute to transform existing practices so that they respond to the shifting demands of legislation and support CE. To understand how this transformation work is performed, we build on the concept of institutional work, which enables us to describe how actors, rather than accepting institutions as permanent and immovable, contribute to their development by creating, maintaining or disrupting the existing institution. Drawing on qualitative research methods, we collected empirical data through 31 semi-structured interviews, observations of meetings and site visits. Our results show that whereas the production of waste is somewhat reduced, and the sorting of fractions improved, the institutional work performed is not sufficient to translate sustainability into new economic values. Although the work performed legitimizes CE principles and enables new initiatives, it mostly fails to change normative associations and to define new rules of action that support CE.

<p>The management of construction waste in large cities carried out by the public administration presents some difficulties that have been increased due to the housing policy developed by the federal government. These problems have affected not only the generation, management, but also the final destination of the waste products. The objective of this study was to investigate the conflicts experienced in João Pessoa city through the quantification found in the Civil Construction and Demolition Waste Management Projects (PGRCCD) present in the Environmental Licensing processes requested in Environment Secretariat of João Pessoa (Semam). In João Pessoa, the situation experienced in the years 2014 and 2015 reflects the national scenario. In 2014 the upswing in the sector resulted in the generation of about 712,101.49 m3 of construction and demolition waste (RCDs). It became a problem because there was evidence of correct disposal of this waste occurring in only 8,471.50 m3 of the estimated total. In 2015, following the national slowdown due to the political-financial crisis, the generation of construction waste decreased considerably. As a result of that there was only an amount of 31,788.88 m3 of construction and demolition waste. However, the final waste disposal verification exceeded the waste generation quantification of the year, of 40,246.46 m3. This made us refer back to former problems’ resolutions. Based on the information from this period it can be said that the process of implementing shared management skills requires adjustments, improvements and technological investment in the traceability of waste disposal that includes the design of the architectural project and the project delivery for this would mean improvements for the city and less environmental impacts.</p>

Globally, the construction industry produces around 40% of all annual waste, making it a major contributor to environmental challenges within the built environment. While digital tools and circular economy practices have shown promise in reducing construction and demolition waste, most research focuses on developed countries. This paper seeks to understand the current state of digitalization in construction and demolition waste (CDW) management, identify key themes and trends, and provide guidance for adopting digital technologies to support sustainable construction waste management in developing countries. The PRISMA methodology and the archival research methods were used to identify papers published in the last 10 years through Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The results show that of the 60 papers that were identified most of the research is concentrated in Europe and Asia. BIM was also found to be the most digital tool used in managing construction and demolition waste. More advanced technologies, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics, are mainly applied at demolition and recycling stages to support waste identification and material recovery. Based on the findings, the study outlines a phased approach to digital CDW management for developing countries, starting with BIM-based waste prevention and progressing towards more integrated, standardized, and scalable digital solutions that support sustainable industrialization in the built environment. As a mapping-focused study, this review emphasized the classification of digital tools and their applications; future studies should focus on empirical evaluations and comparative analyses to provide deeper performance-based insights into digital solutions for CDW management.

In the context of Latin American cities, the management of construction and demolition waste constitutes a strategic challenge. Rapid urban growth and the constrained capacity of disposal sites are generating escalating environmental, social, and economic pressures. Since this waste is generated throughout the life cycle of the building, its management is inherently complex. Consequently, comprehensive planning approaches are essential to mitigate waste generation and advance the reuse and recycling of materials in the construction sector. The methodology combined a systematic review of existing approaches with complementary fieldwork, including a semi-structured survey, interviews, and on-site observations in three construction companies, to identify planning deficiencies and weak practices. Based on these findings, a five-pillar waste management plan was designed, integrating sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and best construction practices. The plan was applied to a high-rise residential building project with a total constructed area of 13,801 m2, where the baseline waste generation indicator was 0.32 m3/m2, equivalent to an estimated 4410 m3 of C&D waste in the absence of a structured management plan. The plan was validated through a 20-month high-rise building project in Santiago, Chile. Results show a reduction of 1905 m3 of waste (43% below projected volumes), savings of USD 12,273 (35% of the waste management budget), and the recovery of 735 m3 of materials (30% of the total) for reuse and recycling. The final waste generation intensity reached 0.18 m3/m2, demonstrating a substantial improvement relative to the initial benchmark and facilitating comparability with other projects through normalized indicators. These outcomes confirm the plan’s potential to enhance environmental performance, deliver measurable economic benefits, and contribute to the transition towards sustainable and circular urban development.

Construction and demolition waste generated in the Republic of Korea accounts for about half of the annual waste. The generation of construction waste is expected to increase gradually due to obsolete structures and reconstructions that have reached the end of their service life. Considering the geographical characteristics of Korea, where the land area is small and about 70% of which is mountainous, landfilling of waste is absolutely limited. Therefore, resource circulation such as recycling of construction waste is an urgent and important task. This paper overviews the current status of construction waste generation, treatment, and the flow of government policies in Korea. Furthermore, the current status, limitations, and stakeholder efforts regarding recycling of recycled aggregate from construction waste were reviewed. Data used in this paper were mostly collected from government reports, construction waste regulations, and research papers. The results show that construction waste management systems have been enacted and revised in line with social needs, and each stakeholder is making an effort to use the construction waste practically. The findings can provide valuable examples for countries that lack construction waste management systems.Graphic abstract

Purpose Rapid construction growth is increasing construction and demolition waste and associated environmental burdens. Construction waste management involves structured practices aimed at reducing, reusing and recycling waste. Despite its recognised benefits, implementing sustainable strategies remains challenging. This research aims to examine the challenges and potential solutions for managing construction waste in New Zealand, focusing on stakeholder perspectives and sustainable practices. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review of Scopus and Google Scholar identified 43 eligible studies. Ten semi-structured interviews with New Zealand subject-matter experts complemented the review. Thematic synthesis was used to derive challenge domains, map barriers to coordinated strategy packages and develop an integrated conceptual framework. Findings Six challenge domains were identified: governance and compliance; infrastructure and resource capacity; financial constraints; waste management planning; culture and education and market availability and demand. Strategies addressing these challenges emphasise stakeholder collaboration, financial incentives, education, logistics and infrastructure planning and technological innovation. Public–private partnerships, certification schemes and procurement requirements were identified as enabling mechanisms that reinforce consistent waste-minimising decisions and accountability across supply chains. Practical implications The framework guides policymakers and practitioners in aligning regulation, incentives, collaboration and technology adoption to improve diversion and material value retention. It supports Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, 12 and 13 through innovation, responsible consumption and production and reduced waste-related emissions. Originality/value Integrating systematic review evidence with expert interviews, the study offers a New Zealand-focused challenge–strategy framework that explains how interacting institutional, organisational, and market conditions shape waste minimisation outcomes across design, construction and end-of-life stages.