Waste Management in Industrial Construction: Investigating Contributions from Industrial Ecology

Larissa A. R. U. Freitas and Alessandra Magrini
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Larissa A. R. U. Freitas: Energy Planning Program, Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Research and Post Graduate Studies of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, PPE-COPPE-UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-972, Brazil
Alessandra Magrini: Energy Planning Program, Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Research and Post Graduate Studies of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, PPE-COPPE-UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-972, Brazil

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: The need for effective construction waste management is growing in importance, due to the increasing generation of construction waste and to its adverse impacts on the environment. However, despite the numerous studies on construction waste management, recovery of construction waste through Industrial Symbiosis and the adoption of other inter-firm practices, comprised within Industrial Ecology field of study, have not been fully explored. The present research aims to investigate Industrial Ecology contributions to waste management in industrial construction. The waste management strategies adopted in two industrial construction projects in Brazil are analyzed. The main waste streams generated are identified, recycling and landfilling diversion rates are presented and waste recovery through Industrial Symbiosis is discussed. A SWOT analysis was carried out. Results demonstrate that 9% of the waste produced in one of the projects was recovered through Industrial Symbiosis, while in the other project, waste recovery through Industrial Symbiosis achieved the rate of 30%. These data reveal Industrial Symbiosis’ potential to reduce landfilling of industrial construction wastes, contributing to waste recovery in construction. In addition, results show that industrial construction projects can benefit from the following synergies common in Industrial Ecology place-based approaches: centralized waste management service, shared waste management infrastructure and administrative simplification.

Keywords: construction waste management; industrial ecology; industrial symbiosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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