Experts’ Perceptions of the Management and Minimisation of Waste in the Australian Construction Industry

Israt Jahan, Guomin Zhang (), Muhammed Bhuiyan, Satheeskumar Navaratnam and Long Shi
Additional contact information
Israt Jahan: School of Engineering, RMIT University, P.O. Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Guomin Zhang: School of Engineering, RMIT University, P.O. Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Muhammed Bhuiyan: School of Engineering, RMIT University, P.O. Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Satheeskumar Navaratnam: School of Engineering, RMIT University, P.O. Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Long Shi: School of Engineering, RMIT University, P.O. Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: Effective waste management has become a crucial factor in Australia because, from 1996 to 2015, the population increased by 28%, while Australia’s annual waste increased by 170%. In the period 2018–2019, Australia generated 27 Mt of construction demolition waste (44% of all waste). Although 76% of this waste is recycled, there has been a 61% increase in the rate of waste since 2006–2007. Therefore, minimising waste and prioritising waste management are necessary to build a circular economy. This study aims to identify the current waste minimisation perceptions in the Australian construction industry. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 50 industry experts focusing on four sectors (design/planning, building information modelling (BIM), material logistics, and prefabrication). The data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively (Severity index). The result disclosed that the designers are the first contributor to waste minimisation, followed by the material suppliers/manufacturers. It is revealed that subjective attitude and the personal reluctance to exercise waste mitigation strategies are crucial. The outcome also indicated that BIM has the potential to minimise waste significantly. Overall, 15 key points were highlighted to consider for waste minimisation, and a conceptual framework was proposed. Therefore, identifying waste management’s current practices and the responsibility of industry personnel will help minimise waste and bring sustainable development.

Keywords: construction waste; waste minimisation; waste management; prefabrication; BIM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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