waste management hierarchy based on priority
actions. The top priority of any waste management
hierarchy is the prevention and implementation
of the 3R system; ‘reduce’, ‘reuse’, and ‘recycle’,
followed by ‘other recovery systems’ with the lowest
priority being ‘disposal’ that includes landfilling and
incineration. An explanation of each functional
component in Figure 3 is described in Table 3.
Construction Waste Management Life
Cycle
A closed-loop approach to sustainable
construction waste management can provide
value at every phase of a building life cycle. Figure
4 shows a systematic process for construction
waste management based on this approach.
Waste management is discussed according to a
‘cradle to cradle’ approach.
Phase 1: Objective
Developing the waste management plan, setting
up the waste management policy and establishing
good work practices in construction waste
management need to be introduced at the outset
of a project. Proactive waste management plans
begin with setting specific objectives by the
project owner or client and being understood by
the project team. The main objectives in achieving
an effective waste management plan must be
clear and should be included in the project brief
prepared by the owner.
Phase 2: Planning, design and procurement
Requirements set by the owner or client will create
a key opportunity to consider and implement the
waste minimisation plan. The project team must
be able to deliver what is stated in the project
brief. An over-arching strategy to achieve waste
minimisation begins during programming and
planning. The involvement of the project team
at early phase is crucial to ensure the waste
management plan can be sustained throughout
the building life cycle. The selected consultants
are the persons who have sound environmental
policies or in-house best practice documents.
Phase 3: Construction
The construction phase of a project generates
the most impact in minimising waste produced
at construction sites. The waste management
plan developed during early phase must be
adopted on site. Policies with regard to waste
management on site include monitoring and
record keeping of wastes leaving the site which
must be formulated and reviewed periodically in
light of developments arising during construction.
Designated locations where wastes are dumped
in separate compartments make them readily
available for recycling as less effort is needed to
separate wastes than if they are indiscriminately
dumped. Policies on packaging materials can
drastically reduce the amount of waste generated
on site, if packing materials are taken back by
the material supplier, either for final disposal of
for reuse or recycling. Contractors should be
encouraged to develop and propose new methods
of construction in order to reduce the production
of waste. Meetings and reports regarding waste
management and minimisation on site should be
held every week or every month, depending on the
involvement of the contractor, the contractor and
the consultant or all parties involved in the project.
Training for workers and supervisors on sites
should be systematically scheduled to ensure
that they are aware of and implement the waste
management plan. Incentives or awards should be
given to employees or sub-contractors who best
achieve specified waste minimisation objectives.
On the contrary, if employees or sub-contractors
fail to comply with the waste minimisation policies,
then a penalty should be imposed.
Phase 4: Occupancy
Management of solid waste generated during
occupancy needs to emphasise more on
environmental solutions to achieve and maintain
long term sustainability goals. The project team
should design the building with efficient waste
management systems based on the building
type, geography, occupancy and other special
circumstances of each individual building and its
occupants. Currently, several green rating tools
such as the Green Building Index (GBI), Green RE,
the Malaysia Carbon Reduction and Environmental
Sustainability Tool (MyCREST) can be used as
reference in managing waste during occupancy.
Phase 5: Operation and maintenance
Long term optimisation in the operation and
maintenance of a completed building is an
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