Using Recycled Construction and Demolition Waste Products: A Review of Stakeholders’ Perceptions, Decisions, and Motivations

Abstract

While the increasing rate of urbanisation is a critical concern for socio-environmental reasons, this also leads to more extraction of natural raw materials and the generation of significant quantities of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Although the use of recycled C&D waste products is technically feasible and regulated, and positive application examples are evident, it is still unclear how to engage key stakeholders to leverage this opportunity in construction projects. Previous research has shown that there is some level of resistance to the reuse of recycled C&D waste products in construction projects. This highlights a critical need to identify the roles of key stakeholders and the barriers they face when using recycled C&D materials. This paper therefore investigates the type of stakeholders influencing the use of recycled C&D waste products and the main factors affecting stakeholders’ decisions to use recycled C&D waste products through a systematic literature review. The authors present an emergent enablers and barriers for recycled C&D waste products model and provide commentary on how stakeholders’ perceptions, decision and behaviour influence the use of recycled C&D waste products. The authors also contribute to the body of knowledge with insights into the factors that various stakeholders believe influence the market for recycled C&D waste products and provides a reference point for authorities to consider these behavioural insights for policy reform.

Extended Producer Responsibility in the Australian Construction Industry

“…The development of EPR and other similar policies is not straightforward due to the complexities and wide range of stakeholders involved in product production, trade, delivery, consumption and waste management [34]. Furthermore, the methods through which EPR policies are applied can vary.…”

“…Zorpas [84] argued that without any motivations, citizens and businesses do not follow any proposed waste minimising activities. Lastly, in the construction industry, recovered waste materials are generally more expensive than conventional materials [34,85], reducing their marketability and producers' profit expected from the application of EPR principles.…”

“…These players also have their own concerns that impede the consistent application of EPR. For instance, architects' designs focus on function and aesthetics; engineers aim to satisfy structural and safety requirements; clients pay attention to budget, quality and time; and builders are mostly concerned with time, cost and profit [17,34]. One piece of research that studied two case studies in the US reported that designers have more control over the recyclability of a building (with control over 12 of the 15 areas [81].…”

“…Contamination by other materials in C&D waste mix is a common issue, particularly during demolition operations [34]. Furthermore, the separation of C&D waste for collection on construction/demolitions sites bears safety risks [90].…”

Recycling and Upcycling in the Practice of Waste Management of Construction Giants

“…The above aspects reinforce the need to implement recycling programs and detailed methodological approaches to assessing their impact on the construction industry. The limiting factors that can constrain the development of recycling practice in construction companies are the long payback periods and low finance [18,19].…”