Solutions to C&D Waste
Added on 2023-01-19
9 Pages4124 Words51 Views
Leadership ManagementMaterials Science and EngineeringCivil Engineering
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Solutions to C&D Waste 1
SOLUTIONS TO C&D WASTE
Name
Course
Professor
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Date
SOLUTIONS TO C&D WASTE
Name
Course
Professor
University
City/state
Date
Solutions to C&D Waste 2
Solutions to C&D Waste
1. Description of the construction industry problem
Construction industry pays a very essential role in socio-economic development of the world. This industry is growing rapidly due to increase in population, infrastructure projects demand, changes in standards of
living and lifestyle or consumption habits. However, one of the major construction industry problems is construction and demolition (C&D) waste. For many years, construction industry has been regarded as one of the
top contributors of solid waste (Mah, et al., 2016); (Sapuay, 2016). For example, in the European Union (EU), C&D waste accounts for about 25-30% of the total waste generated (European Commission, 2018) and
75% of this waste is disposed by landfilling, while C&D waste accounts for 50% of the total waste generated in the UK (Mah, et al., 2016) and 50% of it is landfilled (Osmani, 2011). The C&D waste is generated from
different activities associated with construction including the actual construction process, renovation and demolition (Malia, et al., 2013). The increase in C&D waste over the years has made management of this waste
a big challenge in the construction industry.
C&D waste are usually inform of earth/soil, rock, rubble/debris, mixed site clearance materials, concrete, plastics, asphalt, wood/timber, metals, paper and solvents, among others, as shown in Figure 1 below. Some
of these wastes contain hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead and mercury, making them more dangerous to the environment and human life. In most countries, almost half of the C&D waste get disposed in
landfills. Some of the waste in the landfills get burned producing greenhouse gas emissions while others remain there for many years. This is an environmental problem because a large percentage of C&D waste is non-
biodegradable. This means that toxic substances in the waste can leach into soils, groundwater and water streams thus affecting their quality. The more worrying trend is that the volume of annual C&D waste generated
worldwide is projected to almost double and reach 2.2 billion tons by 2025 (Fabris, 2018).
Figure 1: Types of C&D waste (Akhtar & Sarmah, 2018); (Mitchell, 2017)
2. Justify why this is a problem, who it affects, and its impact
2.1. Problem justification
Construction waste is a major problem due to the steady growth of the construction industry. As different countries continue to develop, construction activities are also on the rise. This means an increase in
construction, renovation and maintenance projects of roads, buildings, dams, bridges, railways, ports and airports, among others, which result to an increase in C&D waste (Katz & Baum, 2011). As aforementioned, the
Solutions to C&D Waste
1. Description of the construction industry problem
Construction industry pays a very essential role in socio-economic development of the world. This industry is growing rapidly due to increase in population, infrastructure projects demand, changes in standards of
living and lifestyle or consumption habits. However, one of the major construction industry problems is construction and demolition (C&D) waste. For many years, construction industry has been regarded as one of the
top contributors of solid waste (Mah, et al., 2016); (Sapuay, 2016). For example, in the European Union (EU), C&D waste accounts for about 25-30% of the total waste generated (European Commission, 2018) and
75% of this waste is disposed by landfilling, while C&D waste accounts for 50% of the total waste generated in the UK (Mah, et al., 2016) and 50% of it is landfilled (Osmani, 2011). The C&D waste is generated from
different activities associated with construction including the actual construction process, renovation and demolition (Malia, et al., 2013). The increase in C&D waste over the years has made management of this waste
a big challenge in the construction industry.
C&D waste are usually inform of earth/soil, rock, rubble/debris, mixed site clearance materials, concrete, plastics, asphalt, wood/timber, metals, paper and solvents, among others, as shown in Figure 1 below. Some
of these wastes contain hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead and mercury, making them more dangerous to the environment and human life. In most countries, almost half of the C&D waste get disposed in
landfills. Some of the waste in the landfills get burned producing greenhouse gas emissions while others remain there for many years. This is an environmental problem because a large percentage of C&D waste is non-
biodegradable. This means that toxic substances in the waste can leach into soils, groundwater and water streams thus affecting their quality. The more worrying trend is that the volume of annual C&D waste generated
worldwide is projected to almost double and reach 2.2 billion tons by 2025 (Fabris, 2018).
Figure 1: Types of C&D waste (Akhtar & Sarmah, 2018); (Mitchell, 2017)
2. Justify why this is a problem, who it affects, and its impact
2.1. Problem justification
Construction waste is a major problem due to the steady growth of the construction industry. As different countries continue to develop, construction activities are also on the rise. This means an increase in
construction, renovation and maintenance projects of roads, buildings, dams, bridges, railways, ports and airports, among others, which result to an increase in C&D waste (Katz & Baum, 2011). As aforementioned, the
Solutions to C&D Waste 3
volume of global C&D waste is estimated to almost double and reach 2.2 billion by 2025. This is justifies why C&D waste is a real global problem that should be solved as early as possible. Another reason why C&D
waste is a real problem is because of inadequate and/or improper legislation to regulate generation and management of waste in the construction industry. Most of C&D waste is regarded as inert and therefore it is
assumed that it does to pose great risks as municipal solid waste. This has caused laxity in formulating appropriate legal and regulatory framework for the generation and management of C&D waste. In other words,
less attention is paid to C&D waste in comparison with other types of waste such as municipal solid waste. As a result, most of the C&D waste end up being disposed in landfills without considering the environmental,
social and economic impacts of this waste disposal method. Therefore other factors contributing to the escalation of this problem are: lack of awareness and knowledge about C&D waste, high landfill fee, increase in
illegal dumping, shortage of land, increase in transportation charges, and weak enforcement of C&D waste management policies.
2.2. Affected parties
C&D waste affect all stakeholders involved in or affected by the construction industry directly or indirectly. This includes construction companies, government departments and regulatory agencies,
environmentalists, clients of construction projects, and the general public. To be fair enough, C&D waste affects everybody. All these groups are affected in different ways. For example, construction companies get
affected by losing the money spent on buying construction materials that end up being wasted or unused and in managing (collecting, storing, transporting and disposing) the waste. In general, C&D waste affects the
environment (including plants and animals)), society (the people) and economy (both private and public sectors).
2.3. Impacts
Construction waste has serious environmental, social and economic impacts (Marzouk & Azab, 2014); (Nagapan, et al., 2012). The general problems of C&D waste include: causes air and water pollution; reduces
soil quality; waste of natural resources; occupies a large space that could be put into meaningful use; increases construction cost. The main categories of impacts of C&D waste are as follows:
2.3.1. Environmental impacts
The environmental impacts of C&D waste cannot be overemphasized. On average, over 50% of total C&D waste generated gets deposited in landfills (Hwang & Yeo, 2011). Some of the environmental impacts of
C&D waste are; causes air pollution hence reducing air quality; decreases soil quality thus affecting plant growth and development; affects water quality through percolation of toxic substances; occupies large areas of
landfills sites end ends up degrading this land; and causes depletion of natural resources because large volumes of new materials are extracted yet a large percentage end up in waste (Mah, et al., 2018). These
environmental impacts affect the lives of humans and animals by posing health hazards, and also the growth and development of plants.
2.3.2. Safety impacts
C&D waste is a big safety threat especially to the local residents. Landfill sites where C&D waste are disposed are common hiding places for gang groups. Piles of C&D waste also increases the possibilities of
landslide occurrence. For example, a pile of C&D waste caused a landslide in Shenzhen, China, in December 2015 killing more than 70 individuals, displacing 900 people and destroying several buildings (Slowey,
2018). Very high piles of C&D waste can also be unstable and collapse easily resulting to injuries, deaths or property destruction. Additionally, continuous movement of trucks in and out of the area increases
possibilities of accidents.
volume of global C&D waste is estimated to almost double and reach 2.2 billion by 2025. This is justifies why C&D waste is a real global problem that should be solved as early as possible. Another reason why C&D
waste is a real problem is because of inadequate and/or improper legislation to regulate generation and management of waste in the construction industry. Most of C&D waste is regarded as inert and therefore it is
assumed that it does to pose great risks as municipal solid waste. This has caused laxity in formulating appropriate legal and regulatory framework for the generation and management of C&D waste. In other words,
less attention is paid to C&D waste in comparison with other types of waste such as municipal solid waste. As a result, most of the C&D waste end up being disposed in landfills without considering the environmental,
social and economic impacts of this waste disposal method. Therefore other factors contributing to the escalation of this problem are: lack of awareness and knowledge about C&D waste, high landfill fee, increase in
illegal dumping, shortage of land, increase in transportation charges, and weak enforcement of C&D waste management policies.
2.2. Affected parties
C&D waste affect all stakeholders involved in or affected by the construction industry directly or indirectly. This includes construction companies, government departments and regulatory agencies,
environmentalists, clients of construction projects, and the general public. To be fair enough, C&D waste affects everybody. All these groups are affected in different ways. For example, construction companies get
affected by losing the money spent on buying construction materials that end up being wasted or unused and in managing (collecting, storing, transporting and disposing) the waste. In general, C&D waste affects the
environment (including plants and animals)), society (the people) and economy (both private and public sectors).
2.3. Impacts
Construction waste has serious environmental, social and economic impacts (Marzouk & Azab, 2014); (Nagapan, et al., 2012). The general problems of C&D waste include: causes air and water pollution; reduces
soil quality; waste of natural resources; occupies a large space that could be put into meaningful use; increases construction cost. The main categories of impacts of C&D waste are as follows:
2.3.1. Environmental impacts
The environmental impacts of C&D waste cannot be overemphasized. On average, over 50% of total C&D waste generated gets deposited in landfills (Hwang & Yeo, 2011). Some of the environmental impacts of
C&D waste are; causes air pollution hence reducing air quality; decreases soil quality thus affecting plant growth and development; affects water quality through percolation of toxic substances; occupies large areas of
landfills sites end ends up degrading this land; and causes depletion of natural resources because large volumes of new materials are extracted yet a large percentage end up in waste (Mah, et al., 2018). These
environmental impacts affect the lives of humans and animals by posing health hazards, and also the growth and development of plants.
2.3.2. Safety impacts
C&D waste is a big safety threat especially to the local residents. Landfill sites where C&D waste are disposed are common hiding places for gang groups. Piles of C&D waste also increases the possibilities of
landslide occurrence. For example, a pile of C&D waste caused a landslide in Shenzhen, China, in December 2015 killing more than 70 individuals, displacing 900 people and destroying several buildings (Slowey,
2018). Very high piles of C&D waste can also be unstable and collapse easily resulting to injuries, deaths or property destruction. Additionally, continuous movement of trucks in and out of the area increases
possibilities of accidents.
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