Promoting effective construction and demolition waste management towards sustainable development

A case study of Hong Kong

Bibliographic Data

ID12307347
AuthorsZezhou Wu (0000-0002-8687-0466, Sino‐Australia Joint Research Centre in BIM and Smart Construction Shenzhen University Shenzhen China), Ann T W Yu (0000-0002-1792-6024, Department of Building and Real Estate The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon Hong Kong), Chi Sun Poon (0000-0003-4912-3936, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon Hong Kong, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume28
Issue6
Pages1713-1724
Publication date2020-09-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainable Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-0802 • E-ISSN: 1099-1719
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/sd.2119
OpenAlexW3081965351
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited51

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste accounts for a large proportion of solid waste, thus effective C&D waste management is essential for promoting sustainable development. In Hong Kong, the government has promulgated a series of policies to encourage related stakeholders to implement effective C&D waste management. However, the overall status remains not satisfactory and has a great potential for further improvement. In this circumstance, the aim of this study is proposing solutions for further improvement of effective C&D waste management in Hong Kong. Based on a comprehensive content analysis of seven selected countries and two rounds of focus group meetings with local experienced professionals, prevailing C&D waste management policies and successful practices were identified and their feasibility of implementation in Hong Kong was discussed. Results revealed that non‐inert waste recycling is a key for improving the C&D waste management in Hong Kong to a higher level. A “3R + I” principle was suggested to be implemented in Hong Kong instead of the currently employed “3R” principle. Four solutions, namely promulgation of more specialized regulations, adoption of advanced recycling technologies, development of mature recycling markets, and implementation of high landfilling costs, were identified as the key directions for future improvement of C&D waste management in Hong Kong. The identified C&D waste management policies and the research methods used in this study can be employed in other countries or regions which are at different C&D waste management levels and economic status to form their own applicable policy framework

Business · Civil engineering · Demolition · Demolition waste · Economics · Environmental economics · Environmental planning · Government (linguistics · Political science · Promulgation · Sustainable development · Waste management · Engineering · Environmental Science · Municipal Solid Waste Management · Recycled Aggregate Concrete Performance · Sustainable Building Design and Assessment

Tools

Open DOI