IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i15p7095-d1718003.html

Beyond Construction Waste Management: A Systematic Review of Strategies for the Avoidance and Minimisation of Construction and Demolition Waste in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Heffernan

    (School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, Wilkinson Building, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Leela Kempton

    (Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, University of Wollongong, Building 237, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, Fairy Meadow, Wollongong, NSW 2519, Australia)

Abstract

The construction sector is responsible for over 40% of waste generated in Australia. Construction materials are responsible for around 11% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and a third of these materials can end up wasted on a construction site. Attention in research and industry has been directed towards waste management and recycling, resulting in 78% of construction and demolition waste being diverted from landfill. However, the waste hierarchy emphasises avoiding the generation of waste in the first place. In this paper, the PRISMA approach is used to conduct a systematic review with the objective of identifying waste reduction strategies employed across all stages of projects in the Australian construction industry. Scopus and Web of Science databases were used. The search returned 523 publications which were screened and reviewed; this resulted in 24 relevant publications from 1998 to 2025. Qualitative analysis identifies strategies categorised into five groupings: pre-demolition, design, culture, materials and procurement, and on-site activities. The review finds a distinct focus on strategies within the materials and procurement category. The reviewed literature includes fewer strategies for the avoidance of waste than for any of the other levels of the waste hierarchy, evidencing the need for further focus in this area.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Heffernan & Leela Kempton, 2025. "Beyond Construction Waste Management: A Systematic Review of Strategies for the Avoidance and Minimisation of Construction and Demolition Waste in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:7095-:d:1718003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/7095/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/7095/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Benson Teck Heng Lim & Bee Lan Oo & Charlie McLeod & Pengqi Yang, 2024. "Institutional and Actor Network Perspectives of Waste Management in Australia: Is the Construction Industry Prepared for a Circular Economy?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Atiq Zaman & Ana Maria Caceres Ruiz & Salman Shooshtarian & Tim Ryley & Savindi Caldera & Tayyab Maqsood, 2023. "Development of the Circular Economy Design Guidelines for the Australian Built Environment Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-26, January.
    3. Salman Shooshtarian & Tayyab Maqsood & Peter SP Wong & Malik Khalfan & Rebecca J. Yang, 2021. "Extended Producer Responsibility in the Australian Construction Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Mahmoud Alhawamdeh & Juan A. Ferriz-Papi & Angela Lee, 2024. "Examining the Drivers to Support Improved Construction and Demolition Waste Management for a Circular Economy: A Comprehensive Review Using a Systematic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-17, July.
    5. Muhammad Usman Shahid & Majid Ali, 2025. "Enablers and Policy Framework for Construction Waste Minimization Under Circular Economy: Stakeholder Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-26, May.
    6. Jan Konietzko & Nancy Bocken & Erik Jan Hultink, 2020. "A Tool to Analyze, Ideate and Develop Circular Innovation Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-39, January.
    7. Israt Jahan & Guomin Zhang & Muhammed Bhuiyan & Satheeskumar Navaratnam & Long Shi, 2022. "Experts’ Perceptions of the Management and Minimisation of Waste in the Australian Construction Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Simone Wurster, 2021. "Creating a Circular Economy in the Automotive Industry: The Contribution of Combining Crowdsourcing and Delphi Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-26, June.
    2. Ivan Deviatkin & Sanna Rousu & Malahat Ghoreishi & Mohammad Naji Nassajfar & Mika Horttanainen & Ville Leminen, 2022. "Implementation of Circular Economy Strategies within the Electronics Sector: Insights from Finnish Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-11, March.
    3. MingCan JI & Xing Zhang, 2024. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Assessing the Impacts and Mechanisms of Green Bond Financing on the Enhancement of Green Management and Technological Innovation in Environmental Conservation Enterprises," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 12709-12750, September.
    4. Nguyen Van Tam & Nguyen Quoc Toan, 2025. "Unlocking Core Strategies for Advancing ESG Practices for Circularity in Construction Organizations: a Quantitative Approach in Vietnam," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(4), pages 3119-3144, August.
    5. Yanzhang Gu & Longying Hu & Hongjin Zhang & Chenxuan Hou, 2021. "Innovation Ecosystem Research: Emerging Trends and Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Lachlan Curmi & Kumudu Kaushalya Weththasinghe & Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq, 2022. "Global Policy Review on Embodied Flows: Recommendations for Australian Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Marie Briguglio & Leandro J. Llorente-González & Christopher Meilak & Ángeles Pereira & Jonathan Spiteri & Xavier Vence, 2021. "Born or Grown: Enablers and Barriers to Circular Business in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Nan-Hua Nadja Yang & Ana Carolina Bertassini & Jéssica Alves Justo Mendes & Mateus Cecílio Gerolamo, 2021. "The ‘3CE2CE’ Framework—Change Management Towards a Circular Economy: Opportunities for Agribusiness," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 697-718, September.
    9. Julia Romano Sanches & Adriana Hofmann Trevisan & Bruno Michel Roman Pais Seles & Camila Gonçalves Castro & Roberta Souza Piao & Henrique Rozenfeld & Janaina Mascarenhas, 2022. "Sustainable Circular Economy Strategies: An Analysis of Brazilian Corporate Sustainability Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-26, May.
    10. Tirufat Dejene Woldeyes & Moreno Muffatto & Francesco Ferrati, 2025. "Emerging Business Model Archetypes in the Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(3), pages 4428-4456, June.
    11. Ibarra, Dorleta & Nieto Cerezo, Oscar & Mendoza, Joan Manuel F., 2026. "Circular business models and value chains for wind turbine blade end-of-life management: A roadmap for turning waste into value," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PC).
    12. Christian Vorbohle, 2025. "Exploring Design Principles and Design Features to Enhance Visual Inquiry Tools for Designing Multi-Actor Ecosystems," Working Papers Dissertations 161, Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.
    13. Antonis A. Zorpas & Maria K. Doula & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2021. "Waste Strategies Development in the Framework of Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-5, December.
    14. Sultan Çetin & Julian Kirchherr, 2025. "The Build Back Circular Framework: Circular Economy Strategies for Post-Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 1689-1726, June.
    15. Anna Pettini & Luca Montini, 2024. "Textile industry sustainability: Unpacking the potential of EPR for circular practices," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(2), pages 87-102.
    16. Muhammad Usman Shahid & Majid Ali, 2025. "Enablers and Policy Framework for Construction Waste Minimization Under Circular Economy: Stakeholder Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-26, May.
    17. Prin Boonkanit & Kridchai Suthiluck, 2023. "Developing a Decision-Making Support System for a Smart Construction and Demolition Waste Transition to a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-27, June.
    18. Pruethsan Sutthichaimethee, 2024. "A Framework on Setting Strategies for Enhancing the Efficiency of State Power use in Thailand’s Pursuit of a Green Economy," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(1), pages 108-120, January.
    19. Marta Royo & Vicente Chulvi & Elena Mulet & Laura Ruiz‐Pastor, 2023. "Analysis of parameters about useful life extension in 70 tools and methods related to eco‐design and circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(2), pages 562-586, April.
    20. Bocken, Nancy & Konietzko, Jan, 2022. "Circular business model innovation in consumer-facing corporations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:7095-:d:1718003. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.