Reducing waste to landfill in the UK: identifying impediments and critical solutions
| Pages | 131-142 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20425941311323136 |
| Date | 01 February 2013 |
| Published date | 01 February 2013 |
| Author | Lukumon O. Oyedele,Martin Regan,Jason von Meding,Ashraf Ahmed,Obas John Ebohon,Amira Elnokaly |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management |
Reducing waste to landfill in
the UK: identifying impediments
and critical solutions
Lukumon O. Oyedele
School of Architecture, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
Martin Regan, Jason von Meding and Ashraf Ahmed
School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering,
Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK
Obas John Ebohon
School of Architecture, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK, and
Amira Elnokaly
School of Architecture, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The UK construction industry produces up to one third of all waste to landfill. This study
aims to identify specific project practices impeding the reduction of waste in construction projects
as well as uncovering potential waste solutions throughout the project delivery process. The rationale
being that for such a drastic reduction in waste to landfill, holistic and extensive measures would
be required.
Design/methodology/approach – A two-way methodological approach was used. This comprised
qualitative unstructured interviews and a quantitative questionnaire survey of three major
stakeholders in the UK construction industry: clients, architects and contractors.
Findings – Design factors remain the major cause of impediments to waste reduction to landfill.
Critical impediments include clients making waste prevention a top priority in projects, overly
complex designs, waste taking a low prio rity compared to project time and costs, lack of concerns by
designers for buildability, among others. Critical solutions include early supply chain involvement in
design process, choosing materials for their du rability, early communication of design changes to all
parties, longer project programmes and better lead times, among others.
Practical implications – In all, the target of halving construction waste to landfill based on the 2008
benchmark is achievable but would require construction companies to take it upon themselves to
implement the proposed solutions suggested by this study.
Originality/value – The value of this research is to provide UK construction companies with
solutions to reduce waste and aid the reaching of the landfill target, as landfill is decreasing as a
solution to waste. In addition the cost savings on reducing waste could be crucial for companies in this
current economic climate.
Keywords Sustainability, Project management, Waste, Landfill, UK Government, Design,
Construction, Landfill tax, Strategies, Challenges, Client, Architects
Paper type Research p aper
Introduction
In general terms waste is unwanted material. Its original purp ose has been met and the
material is of no further use in its present state or location. WRAP (2011) found that the
construction industry was responsible for a 120 mil lion tonnes waste which was
estimated as being a third of all UK waste. Waste management has generally adopted
the approach of finding a way of moving and disposing of this waste through a series of
processes. Historically most of the waste has ended up being disposed of via landfill.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol.10 No. 2, 2013
pp. 131-142
rEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/20425941311323136
131
Reducing waste
to landfill
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