SWOT Analysis for Sustainable waste management in Construction.

SWOT Analysis for Sustainable waste management in Construction
Construction industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in order to provide adequate
infrastructure for the rapidly increasing population. This results into generation of large
volumes of waste, from concrete debris, steel bars and other construction waste that needs to
be properly managed to avoid deterioration of the environment, especially during
construction as well as demolition activities. To ensure sustainability of construction
practices in the long run, there is need to effectively manage waste being produced (Ming
S., Bon H. and Lei Z.,2017).
5 R’S of waste management
waste management involves reducing waste generation, reusing waste as raw material
another process, recycling, refuse and waste recovery.
SWOT Analysis
A SWOT matrix analysis for sustainable waste management in construction is essential for understanding of the critical
issues in construction.
Strengths
Economic position to put in place mechanisms of effective
construction waste management
Use of Building Information modelling to increase construction safety
and management moving into the future.
Coming up with initiatives and vision plans to be achieved in future
waste management programs.
Creation of awareness to the general public on the importance of
construction waste management.
Weaknesses
Absence of legislation on construction and
demolition work management plans makes it
difficult to properly manage the waste.
Inefficient methods of on-site sorting to
separate waste that can still be used from that
which should be disposed.
Lack of employing the use of 5R’s as
previously discussed.
There is not integrated waste management
system like CDW transfer stations.
Opportunities
The increasing volume of construction waste
necessitates a swift action by putting in place
techniques for reducing construction and
demolition waste.
The problem of waste management attracts the
attention of private investors and government to
offer long term solutions.
Develop strategies type 1
Need for a clear definition of
Construction and demolition waste
management plans to develop and
implement waste management.
Putting up facilities, mechanisms and
incentives to promote research on
construction and demolition work
management
Develop strategies type 2
Use life cycle approach to
review the construction and
demolition work management
plans.
Awareness creation through
education, training and
awareness campaigns
promotion.
Threats
There are a limited number of landfills to receive
the waste being disposed.
Free deposition of waste by contractors since there
are no charges for construction and demolition
waste.
Limited market for construction and demolition
waste hence not much is used in recycling.
Inadequate research in the use of recycled
construction and demolition waste.
Develop strategies type 3
Promote, establish and develop
market for recycled construction and
demolition waste.
Develop strategies type 4
Use media to broadcast rules
and regulations to be used in
effective construction waste
management. Proper
communication should be
used and contractors should
measure the quantity of waste
generated.
Site waste Reduction
Effie P. et al., (2011) postulates that there is need for a site waste management plan (SWMP) that would provide a framework to help
contractors and project managers in forecasting and recording the volume and type of waste produced at a construction site. They also
propose a mechanism of waste management strategy to effectively handle the waste generated and taken to landfills. Below is their
proposal outline.
Phase of the project Site waste management plan (SWMP) actions
Setting up of the project Enter project details
Conceptual design Record waste prevention actions
Detail design Waste estimation and forecasting
Record waste reduction actions
Pre construction Specify waste carriers
Plan waste destinations
Record waste management and recovery actions
Construction Enter actual waste arisings, reduction, recovery and
management activities
Carry out training, monitoring and recording
Post construction Compare actual against forecast waste management
activities
Assess performance based on KPIs
Suggest improvement for next projects
The life cycle costing of a building can be used to increase efficiency and sustainability of a construction building, a concept well
explained by Ahmad F. (2016). For instance, the use of green energy like solar and wind energy to reduce overreliance on fossil
energy which results into emissions of green house gases, a form of waste that needs to be reduced during the fabrication of
metallic parts. The diagram below represents a systematic process for construction waste management through whole life cycle of
a building.
Sustainability
The ever-expanding construction activities in built environment leads to a number of environmental problems causing harm to
lands and jeopardizing production of natural resources (Jannatun N. & Zulhabri I., 2014). Since construction activities cause majo
changes in the environmental set up, there is need to discuss sustainability issues globally to enable a holistic approach in the way
construction is done in respect to waste generation and sustainable practices.
According to Dania A. et al. (2016), Sustainability should be looked at in the dimensions of social, economic and environmental
aspects, since all these forms an integrated basis for which waste management in construction and demolition activities can be
effectively implemented.
Conclusion
It is evident that large waste generation in construction and demolition activities significantly affect the natural environment. This
necessitates the need to effectively manage the waste produced through a relevant model, for instance the model of minimize,
reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. Construction managers are required to perform a SWOT analysis for sustainable waste
management and bring on board strategies for better action plans. It is worthwhile noting that illegal dumping of construction
waste has become dominant and affects management of construction waste. Despite the public awareness already created, there is
urgent need to enlighten the public on the importance of recycling and reuse of construction waste.
References
Ahmad F. Roslan and Zuhairi A., 2016. Sustainable Construction Waste Management. 20 September.Volume 66.
Dania A., Kehinde J. and Bala K., 2016. A STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN
NIGERIA. pp. 121-129.
EffieP., Christopher P. and Rory P., 2011. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA: A CONTRACTOR’S PERSPECTIVE.
Management and Innovation for a Sustainable Built Environment, 23 June.
Jannatun N. and Zulhabri I., 2014. Sustainable Construction Waste Management Strategic Implementation Model. WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and
DEVELOPMENT, Volume 10, pp. 48-59.
Mercedes M. and Pilar G., 2010. Sustainable construction: construction and demolition waste reconsidered. 17 May.pp. 118-129.
Ming S., Bon H. and Lei Z., 2017. A Global Review of Sustainable Construction Project Financing: Policies, Practices, and Research Efforts. Sustainability, 16
December.pp. 1-17.
Mohd R., Anthony H. and Farrah Z., 2015. Waste Management in Construction Industry - A Review on the Issues and Challenges. International Conference on
Environmental Research and Technology (ICERT 2015), May.pp. 100-104.
Sasitharan N., Ismail A., Ade A. and Aftab H., 2012. Issues on Construction Waste: The Need for Sustainable Waste Management. pp. 329-334.
Vivian W., Yan T. and Weisheng L., 2016. Construction Waste Management Profiles, Practices, and Performance: A Cross-Jurisdictional Analysis in Four Countries.
Sustainability, 22 February, 8(190), pp. 1-16.
Yahya K. and Boussabaine H., 2014. ECO-COSTS OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT. pp. 113-128.
Introduction