Beyond Construction Waste Management: A Systematic Review of Strategies for the Avoidance and Minimisation of Construction and Demolition Waste in Australia

Emma Heffernan () and Leela Kempton
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Emma Heffernan: School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, Wilkinson Building, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Leela Kempton: Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, University of Wollongong, Building 237, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, Fairy Meadow, Wollongong, NSW 2519, Australia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-23

Abstract: The construction sector is responsible for over 40% of waste generated in Australia. Construction materials are responsible for around 11% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and a third of these materials can end up wasted on a construction site. Attention in research and industry has been directed towards waste management and recycling, resulting in 78% of construction and demolition waste being diverted from landfill. However, the waste hierarchy emphasises avoiding the generation of waste in the first place. In this paper, the PRISMA approach is used to conduct a systematic review with the objective of identifying waste reduction strategies employed across all stages of projects in the Australian construction industry. Scopus and Web of Science databases were used. The search returned 523 publications which were screened and reviewed; this resulted in 24 relevant publications from 1998 to 2025. Qualitative analysis identifies strategies categorised into five groupings: pre-demolition, design, culture, materials and procurement, and on-site activities. The review finds a distinct focus on strategies within the materials and procurement category. The reviewed literature includes fewer strategies for the avoidance of waste than for any of the other levels of the waste hierarchy, evidencing the need for further focus in this area.

Keywords: waste hierarchy; construction materials; waste efficient design; waste reduction culture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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