Economic Aspect of Construction Waste Materials in Terms of Cost Savings

Bhargav M Makwana

Abstract: Construction and demolition activities consume large amounts of materials, energy and labour, but a significant portion of these inputs is lost as waste. Every metric ton of discarded material costs more to dispose of than it generates in economic value. C&D waste can be a potential replacement for virgin materials if it is properly recovered and recycled. Understanding the economic aspects of construction waste requires looking at both cost drivers and cost-saving opportunities. This paper examines the economic implications of construction waste. It reviews findings from international studies on cost?benefit analysis, life-cycle costing and financial evaluation of waste-minimisation and recycling strategies. Key cost components include material procurement, on-site handling, off-site transport, tipping fees and administrative costs. The paper proposes a model for economic evaluation. Integrated strategies that combine waste prevention, on-site management and off-site recycling can reduce project costs and generate financially viable business models for recycling facilities. Barriers and enablers from an economic perspective are analysed in terms of contractual structures, market maturity and policy instruments, and recommendations are provided for practitioners and policymakers aiming to treat construction waste as a managed economic flow rather than a residual by-product.

Keywords: Construction waste, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, economic analysis, cost savings, cost?benefit analysis, recycled aggregates, landfill charges, circular economy, life-cycle costing, resource efficiency

How to Cite?: Bhargav M Makwana, "Economic Aspect of Construction Waste Materials in Terms of Cost Savings", Volume 11 Issue 8, August 2022, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1584-1590, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR22818110349, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR22818110349