Estimating Demolition Waste Recoverable Fractions in Rapidly Transforming Urban Zones

Aslan Nauyryzbay, Aiganym Kumisbek, Arna Amangeldiyeva, Jong Ryeol Kim () and Mert Guney ()
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Aslan Nauyryzbay: School of Environment & Energy Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
Aiganym Kumisbek: Department of Built Environment, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0176 Oslo, Norway
Arna Amangeldiyeva: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Jong Ryeol Kim: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Mert Guney: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: The construction sector is a major contributor to global solid waste generation, with demolition waste posing substantial environmental and economic challenges. The present study introduces a demolition waste estimation tool and applies it to a rapidly transforming city: Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The approach is also readily applicable to cities in transformation with similar characteristics, e.g., those in the Commonwealth of Independent States region and beyond. The key materials of interest were identified as those that can be efficiently extracted from buildings slated for demolition. A comprehensive analysis of current building stocks and demolition plans (2023–2029) was then conducted. Based on the height, purpose, and main material of the building, the main types and subtypes of the building stock in Astana were created. The results for Astana showed that 67.52% or 1736.5 thousand tons of all demolition waste could be recovered. Concrete had the highest recovery potential by mass (162.42 thousand tons annually) and by percent (91%). The economic analysis of construction and demolition waste illustrated a financial potential from construction and demolition waste recovery in Astana at USD 4600 million per year, with concrete having the highest potential among fractions (56% of total).

Keywords: material stock analysis; recycling demolition waste; solid waste composition; solid waste management; urban sustainability; waste quantity estimation (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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