Recycling Potential from Construction and Demolition Waste Management

This paper discusses the growing need of the construction industry in energy sustenance, social and economic growth, and the pertinence of recycling construction and demolition waste (CDW), highlighting the historical overview of the context, appearance and development of this recent practice, including certain cases currently in use. The study reviewed related works on methods of using CDW domestically and globally. This aspect has gained recent attention such that, records have shown the erection of a single low-cost housing structure in South Africa and other developing countries to constitute a range of 2-4 tons of debris. A larger part of the waste is disposed in landfills and other containment facilities, regardless of the fact that about 80% of the waste can be potentially recycled. Hence, it was noted that climatic catastrophe can be prevented via environmental rehabilitation by recycling CDW; positing essential and stricter regulations, increased research on cheap and appropriate technologies, and investigations into environmental risks caused by improperly disposing CDW. Rubbles from demolished structures/CDW are highly recyclable and constitute over 24% of municipal solid waste. This increases costs and regulations thereby, forcing containment facilities to place stringent policies and approaches in dealing with CDW sent to landfills. The study also highlights obstacles on the extensive implementation of environmentally sound and friendly management practices at construction sites where CDW are enormously generated, as well as points to some improvements made in redirecting such waste from landfills. Nonetheless, it contributes to the awareness of waste and construction professionals on the need to build more efficiently, using the right management of exhaustible natural resources and the recycling potential of waste products.