Assessing the environmental impact of construction waste management in northern Thailand: An approach to estimate greenhouse gas emissions and cumulative energy demand

Abstract

Over the past century, the world has grappled with the looming challenge of climate change, with the construction sector emerging as a significant greenhouse gas emitter. This research aims to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, cumulative energy demand (CED), and associated disposal costs by applying life cycle assessment (LCA) principles to the disposal of construction materials in northern Thailand. The study employs LCA as the analytical method, focusing on the disposal of concrete, steel, and wood waste from residential construction projects. The life cycle inventory analysis investigates waste management practices, including on-site landfilling, recycling, and transportation with an average distance of 30 km. The findings reveal that concrete waste is the primary contributor, with transportation playing a pivotal role. In the conventional case, total GHG emissions reach 38.624 kgCO2eq/m2, with CED at 12.991 MJ/m2 and disposal costs totaling 420.97 THB/m2. Three waste management scenarios are explored: Scenario 1 (50% on-site landfilling, 50% reuse/recycling), Scenario 2 (75% on-site landfilling, 25% transportation landfill), and Scenario 3 (100% on-site concrete landfilling, 100% steel reuse/recycling, 100% wood waste landfilling). Scenario 3 shows a significant 20.3% reduction in GHG emissions, a 90.5% decrease in CED, and a disposal cost reduction of 20.9% compared to the conventional case. This study underscores the importance of strategic waste management decisions, highlighting the potential of sustainable practices to foster an eco-friendly construction sector. Its findings offer valuable insights and recommendations, advocating for refined strategies like prioritizing recycling, optimizing transportation, and minimizing incineration to effectively reduce emissions and promote environmental responsibility in construction.