Developing a cost effective construction and demolition waste management plan

Concern over construction and demolition (C&D) wastes is becoming a prevalent part of any construction project. Historically, landfilling waste materials was the standard solution for most contractors, but as tipping fees have risen dramatically over the past five to seven years, many contractors are looking for alternative methods, such as recycling or waste minimization, to reduce wastes.

This thesis investigates C&D wastes and proposes a methodology to address the problem of assessing waste disposal techniques efficiently and economically. A brief history of C&D wastes is provided to understand how and why costs associated with waste materials have risen over the last several years. Current waste management resources are discussed to demonstrate the availability of alternative disposal methods. An overall waste management plan is developed to provide a contractor with a step by step flowchart for analyzing material wastes, quantitatively assessing all costs associated with waste disposal, and implementing and updating the chosen waste management techniques. A case study is provided to illustrate how the waste management plan is used in an actual project. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the potential for further research in the area of C&D waste management.