Construction industries waste circulation problems in Latvia

Abstract

Construction is crucial for the development of a country, it affects both individuals and the whole society’s life, as well as the environment. As construction is so crucial, it must be done as environmentally friendly as possible. During construction processes, a large amount of waste is produced. Incorrect management of this waste degrades our environment. Disposal of construction waste is a very popular way, but it is not a very environmentally friendly way of managing this waste. Interviews and surveys have been conducted in the study to investigate the opinion of construction participants about construction waste in Latvia. The research uses the theoretical research method, survey, interviewing, and data processing methods. Construction waste can be recycled. In construction in Latvia, legal requirements are observed, and construction waste is mostly handed over to processing companies, where a part is sorted. The processing and reuse of construction waste are relatively small. The construction waste sector in Latvia is regulated, but not sufficiently monitored, allowing a grey area to form. Sorting of construction waste at construction sites in Latvia practically does not take place, part of the waste is sorted in landfills. There is not enough research on the possibilities of recycling construction waste. Construction participants are not interested in starting construction waste sorting and recycling with their own initiative. In the procurement of municipalities and state institutions, construction waste sorting should be included as a mandatory requirement.

Management of Household-Generated Construction and Demolition Waste: Circularity Principles and the Attitude of Latvian Residents

“…According to the authors, the amount of construction material that ends up in secondary circulation in Latvia is relatively small, and this finding is related to several factors, starting from legislative deficiencies and inefficient administration and ending with the attitude of the population; this conclusion has been indicated in other studies [57].…”

“…Despite the improvements, in general, the amount of construction materials that enter secondary circulation in Latvia is relatively small [56,57]. According to survey data of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the largest mass of construction materials that enter secondary circulation are finishing materials (32%), timber (28%), and bricks and stones (22%), and windows and doors are also a significant part (10%).…”