Environmental impact of construction waste

• Main Authors: Rahman, Md Motiar, Nizam, Fatin Shahrun, Yusof, Ismawi Md, Asli, Rajul Adli
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate change; Construction materials; Environmental impact; Factor analysis; Toxic waste disposal; Toxic wastes; Water pollution
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0111220

Construction waste is inevitable in construction process. Although most of the wastes generated are inert and non-toxic, but some wastes, and especially their disposal methods can create considerable environmental impact. As such, this study identified 12 potential environmental impacts or factors through a questionnaire survey of 97 contractors and consultants from Brunei Darussalam. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software. Although some factors were found more important than some other factors, all the 12 factors were found significantly important, both within the total sample and different groups of respondents based on their working organization, nature of job and level of working position. Various respondent groups also significantly agreed on the relative importance of different factors. Factor analysis exercise e extracted four components of water pollution, harmful and toxic substances, climate change and unhealthy environment. The former three components were seen interconnected with very high primary and very secondary contributions of three factors, suggesting an integrated approach of addressing the identified issues. On the other hand, only one principal contribution and one secondary contribution made the ‘climate change’ component, indicating the importance of climate change and that there is a strong relationship of climate change with construction waste. These findings are expected to benefit policy makers in determining the appropriate mitigation measures to construction waste.