Identifying Root Causes and Sustainable Solutions for Reducing Construction Waste Using Social Network Analysis

Mona Salah, Emad Elbeltagi (), Meshal Almoshaogeh, Fawaz Alharbi and Mohamed T. Elnabwy
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Mona Salah: Construction Engineering and Management, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Emad Elbeltagi: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
Meshal Almoshaogeh: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
Fawaz Alharbi: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed T. Elnabwy: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-27

Abstract: The construction industry is a major contributor to environmental degradation, primarily due to the substantial volumes of construction waste (CW) generated on-site. As sustainability becomes a global imperative aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, identifying and mitigating the root causes of CW is essential. This study adopts a cross-disciplinary approach to explore the drivers of CW and support more effective, sustainable waste reduction strategies. A systematic literature review was conducted to extract 25 key CW source factors from academic publications. These were analyzed using Social Network Analysis (SNA) to reveal their structural relationships and relative influence. The results indicate that the lack of structured on-site waste management planning, accumulation of residual materials, and insufficient worker training are among the most influential CW drivers. Comparative analysis with industry data highlights theoretical–practical gaps and the need for improved alignment between research insights and site implementation. This paper recommends the adoption of tiered waste management protocols as part of contractual documentation, integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based residual material traceability systems, and increasing attention to workforce training programs focused on material handling efficiency. Future research should extend SNA frameworks to sector-specific waste patterns (e.g., pavement or demolition projects) and explore the intersection between digital technologies and circular economy practices. The study contributes to enhancing waste governance, promoting resource efficiency, and advancing circularity in the built environment by offering data-driven prioritization of CW sources and actionable mitigation strategies.

Keywords: construction waste; sustainable construction; social study; material recycling; waste management; sustainability (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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