Waste management in construction in developing economies

Kumar Neeraj Jha, Sakshi Gupta and Ravindranadh Chowdary Kamma

Chapter 21 in Research Companion to Advances in the Construction Industry in the Global South, 2026, pp 503-521 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Waste in construction is defined in many ways, such as material waste, human resource waste, procurement waste, equipment inefficiency, and transportation waste. It is essential to manage this waste in moving towards sustainable construction. This chapter explores the challenges and opportunities of managing waste in developing economies by applying the concepts of 3R, that is, reduce, recycle, and reuse. Challenges in managing construction waste in developing countries include limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of regulatory frameworks. The chapter outlines the strategies for effective waste management in developing economies by focusing on best practices adopted by developed economies. These strategies are related to waste minimisation by reducing, reusing, and recycling (3R) techniques that would help achieve the environmental, economic, and social parameters of sustainability. Lastly, the chapter provides the future directions for managing the waste generated in construction by providing a roadmap for the stakeholders to follow in adopting more robust waste management practices.

Keywords: Construction waste; Material waste; Sustainability; Human resource waste; Strategies; Developing countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035349012
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