A life cycle assessment of building demolition waste: a comparison study

Abstract

Globally, building demolition waste constitutes a considerable environmental problem. The environmental implications are not only associated with volume but also with carbon embodied in the waste. These adverse environmental impacts associated with the generated waste can be minimised through appropriate waste management strategies. This study proposed a mathematical model from the end-of-life perspective to examine two waste treatment methods. The model was illustrated by a case study of three approved building construction systems by a current UK supermarket referred to as construction methods CM1, CM2 and CM3 to assess the construction system with the least carbon dioxide emission. Landfilling and recycling were assumed as waste treatment methods to examine the preferable waste treatment method. Results showed that recycling is the most preferred method of waste treatment method of the supermarket. This was revealed by the amount of demolition waste material recycled (more than 90%) from each of the CM compared with the volume of waste materials landfilled (<10%) and the associated carbon dioxide emissions. Steel has the highest carbon reduction potential contributing ∼80% in each case study compared with concrete ∼1%. Finally, CM1 has the lowest carbon dioxide emission, with both CM2 and CM3 emitting ∼3% more.