A mini review on generation, handling, and initiatives to tackle construction and demolition waste in India

Abstract

Increase in the construction and demolition (C&D) waste generation all over the globe is indeed troublesome as it pose threat to the economy and sustainability. Construction, India’s second largest sector, has undergone massive growth in recent decades. Quantifying the C&D waste generation and its handling is considered to be an important for an effective waste management. Various approaches have been used in the literature to measure C&D waste generation at both regional and project levels. This study represents the review on the current status of generation, handling and important steps undertaken to manage C&D waste in India. This study also aims to examine the reasons for the waste management problem in the construction sector. The study reveals that the contractor, manufacturer, supplier and designer are some of the major contributors of C&D waste generation. In order to ensure the coordinated collection, storage, transport, treatment/processing and disposal of C&D waste in India, the C&D Waste Management Rules were implemented in 2016. But in the four-year period there was little improvement in the widespread use of C&D waste. According to Central Pollution Control Board, India, Chennai and Mumbai each have generated 2500 tonnes per day C&D waste in the year 2017. Further, approaches to manage C&D waste proposed by various organizations promotes the use of “sustainable construction materials” and recycled C&D waste items, to construct affordable housing units by 2022 to tackle serious housing shortages. Regulations exist, but recycling is not gathering traction yet. The fact is due to inefficient capacity of the plants and lack of monitoring by government authorities. This research is relevant to policy makers, regulatory authorities, industry and academics who research or handle the waste and its recycling in construction and demolition. • Construction, India’s second largest industry has undergone massive growth. • Industry is generating 10–12 million tonnes of C&D waste annually. • Population migration is one of the reasons for higher waste generation rate. • Out of total waste generated, 30%–40% waste is concrete. • Swachh Bharat Mission is government of India’s flagship plan for increased waste and resource recovery.