Unveiling the NIMBY effect in construction and demolition waste landfilling: Factors, paths, and solutions

Abstract

The construction and operation of the construction and demolition waste (C&DW) landfills often encounter significant opposition from nearby residents, which is called the “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) effect. However, little is known about the formation mechanism of the NIMBY effect in C&DW landfilling, so this research was conducted for this purpose. First, the influencing factors leading to the NIMBY effect were determined based on a literature review and questionnaire survey. Then, the interrelationship and influencing path of critical factors were revealed using expert interviews and Interpretative Structural Modelling. The results shown that 12 factors from four levels (including residents, society, government, and enterprises) caused the NIMBY effect in C&DW landfilling. These factors formed a complex network comprising 18 influencing paths. Notably, policy and responding measures as pivotal bottom-level factors that trigger the NIMBY effect by indirectly impacting residents' rights awareness and shaping public perception towards C&DW landfill operation enterprises through directly affecting personal interest, cognitive bias, distrust, disposal technology, management level, opinion leader, and other intermediate factors, ultimately triggering the NIMBY effect. Moreover, strategies for mitigating or resolving the NIMBY effect were proposed, such as protecting personal reasonable interests, understanding the potential risks of C&DW landfills rationally, reporting the C&DW landfills from an objective perspective, improving policies and promoting public participation, and enhancing supervision of the C&DW landfills. The study added new knowledge to the current public's NIMBY effect in C&DW landfilling. Meanwhile, it also provided a reference for formulating C&DW landfilling policies and selecting landfill sites.