A review of construction and demolition waste management in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This study conducted a review of a wide array of documents related to construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in Southeast Asia (SEA). CDW definitions, current state of CDW generation and composition, CDW flow and institutional arrangements for CDW management were assessed. CDW generation was estimated in SEA countries where data are unavailable. The review results indicated the inadequacy of existing CDW management in almost all SEA nations, with a dearth of proper data on the amount of CDW generated and proportions of CDW components. Insufficient legal documents designed for CDW and unclear assignment of prime responsibilities for CDW management have also been observed. The SEA’s high ratio of CDW generation to the construction industry’s value added implies a great waste burden that construction activities there are causing compared to their contribution to the regional economy. This study suggested a need for more holistic and aggressive methods of sustainable CDW management, namely: developing legalised systematic approaches to CDW data collection and database establishment; enabling public private partnership models, which involve the private sector in establishing recycling facilities and internalise informal actors in formal CDW management arrangement; applying recycling-favourable policies such as green public procurement, along with disposal fee schemes.