Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Waste in Bangladesh: Advancing a Greener Industry through Resource Recovery and Recycling

Abstract

Findings from the study reveal that Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) in Bangladesh mainly consists of concrete (56%), brick (15%), mortar (9%), metal (6%), and ceramics (6%). However, the exact constitution may differ depending on the structure and type and structure of building. Additionally, the collective CDW produced in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal, and Sylhet totals 3.71 million tons (MT). The WGR of construction and demolition waste is assessed through regression analysis. The mean WGR for Construction and Demolition activities in the fiscal year 2022–2023 are notably recorded at 64.68 kg/m2 and 1626.97 kg/m2, correspondingly for the twelve city corporations of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, a substantial portion of this waste is inadequately disposed of in landfills. The study highlights the potential for entrepreneurial initiatives in recycling materials like concrete, brick, mortar, metal, ceramics, and timber, leading to reduced CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The estimated economic value of recycling concrete, brick and mortar in major cities is approximately 104.5 million USD and 0.45 MT of CO2 reduction from recycling brick and metals from major cities. These findings provide crucial quantitative data for government bodies and industries aiding in developing strategies for CDW management in Bangladesh.