Evaluation of Construction and Demolition Waste Management in Kuwait

• Published in: Recycling (Basel) Vol. 7; no. 6; p. 88
• Main Authors: Almusawi, Mohammed Baqer Hasan, Karim, Ahmad Tarmizi Bin Abd, Ethaib, Saleem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-12-2022
• Subjects: Analysis; Commercial buildings; Concrete; Concrete construction; Conservation of natural resources; Construction; Construction industry; Construction industry wastes; Construction materials; construction phase; construction waste; Data collection; Demolition; Flooring; Kuwait; Landfills; life cycle assessment; Materials handling; Metals; Natural resource management; Natural resources; Project engineering; Questionnaires; Refuse and refuse disposal; Residential areas; Resource management; sustainability; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Waste disposal; Waste disposal sites; Waste management; Wrecking; Kuwait; United Kingdom > UK
• ISSN: 2313-4321; 2313-4321
• DOI: 10.3390/recycling7060088

This research aimed to evaluate Kuwait’s current construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) situation by focusing on C&D waste generation and management issues. This work also investigated the causes and factors affecting C&D waste to understand the actual waste management activities and proposed strategies to minimize the waste generated at the local level. This study estimated C&D waste generation rates based on data collected from five construction projects and two demolition projects in Kuwait. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the causes of C&D waste generation. The results showed that the average C&D waste quantities generated by construction activities were 49.5 kg/m2 for public/commercial building projects and 35 kg/m2 for residential projects. At the same time, public/commercial construction, residential construction, and demolition works generated 1.480 ton/m2, 0.0495 ton/m2, and 0.035 ton/m2, respectively. The average composition of C&D waste from the construction sector was 35.4% concrete waste, followed by 19.2% tiles/blocks, and 14.2% metals, with the remainder being other materials. Meanwhile, the demolition waste was composed of 70% concrete and cement waste and 20% metals. The results showed that 54% of the projects disposed of their C&D waste directly in the landfills. The leading causes of C&D waste generation were reworks due to changes in specifications, poor material quality, improper material handling, and improper site management. Strategic C&D waste management practices are necessary for sustainable natural resource management and conservation of the environment.