ASSESSMENT OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Despite the importance of waste management in construction industry, literature review shows that inadequate research has been done on developing waste assessment system in Singapore’s construction industry. This study aims to find ways to quantify construction waste in residential projects as part of waste minimization strategies. The main objectives are to: examine the adequacy of existing waste quantification models; identify materials that give rise to significant waste generation for residential projects; develop a model to assess construction waste in residential projects; determine the difficulties in the implementation of waste assessment; and propose measures to facilitate the implementation of waste assessment. Using a questionnaire survey approach, the waste level of construction materials, as well as the associated barriers and recommendations to the implementation of the waste assessment are found. Incentive scheme is found to be the most effective measure to encourage main contractors to implement waste assessment for their residential projects. It is strongly correlated to the barrier of which main contractors have Ineffective elimination of wasteful practice on the construction site. Generally, the waste levels of the construction materials for structural, architectural and M&E works are not very significant during construction stage. Nevertheless, they are important for the development of the construction material waste assessment model. The model developed in this study enables the waste level of a residential project to be computed. The findings are useful to policy-makers because they may be able to design more effective assistance schemes to encourage main contractors to adopt waste management practices. In addition, the study can assist practitioners in monitoring waste level of their residential projects during construction stage.