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Improvement of Environmental Sustainability and Circular Economy through Construction Waste Management for Material Reuse

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Schützenhofer

    (Department of Integrated Planning and Industrial Building, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

  • Iva Kovacic

    (Department of Integrated Planning and Industrial Building, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

  • Helmut Rechberger

    (Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

  • Stephanie Mack

    (Department of Integrated Planning and Industrial Building, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industries are allocated 40–60% of the worldwide raw material extraction. Construction waste accounts for a significant share of the total waste volume. Therefore, careless handling reduces natural resources and waste deposits (landfills). Furthermore, material reuse and recycling can reduce resource and energy consumption and environmental emissions in some cases. Waste management concepts in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction are increasingly in the European Union and worldwide focus. A circular economy can be seen as a system in which resource input, waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimised due to closed material loops. Therefore, implementing a consistent Circular Economic requires a holistic approach in which material, emissions, and energy are put into context. This paper aims to analyse dismantling, recovery, and recycling processes and link relevant parameters to assess material sustainability. The technical effort must be made, and the associated costs are compared with the influence of eco-indicators. Furthermore, the data required can be used for the following three areas: Facilitating demolition planning and on-site waste management; resource management at the local/regional/state level; and governmental tax mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Schützenhofer & Iva Kovacic & Helmut Rechberger & Stephanie Mack, 2022. "Improvement of Environmental Sustainability and Circular Economy through Construction Waste Management for Material Reuse," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:11087-:d:907102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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