Promoting sustainable construction waste management in Hong Kong

Abstract

Similar to many affluent cities found elsewhere in the world, Hong Kong is currently facing a great challenge to manage the wastes generated from its construction and demolition (C&D) activities that has wide-ranging impacts on the environment. To tackle this, the Hong Kong Special and Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has signalled the required changes by sorting out the inert substances from C&D waste for reusing and recycling and using recycled building materials in construction through its role as both a construction client and contractor. The current practices and attitudes of local project participants towards C&D waste management were collected through questionnaires. A total of 69 questionnaires were received: 61% of the respondents stated that their projects did not take any measures to collect and separate C&D wastes and 64% of the projects did not use recycled building materials in construction. The prevailing problems of local construction industry are addressed through examinations of the constraints involved in improving C&D waste treatment and according to the results of the survey, to evaluate the practicability of increasing the capability and capacity of the industry to learn to be more sustainable.Construction and demolition waste, sorting, recycling,

Why sustainable construction? Why not? An owner's perspective

“…As a result, there are not only great uncertainties concerning products entering into the market but also an absence of related standards, codes and certification for technologies and materials (Zhang et al, 2014). In addition, Wong and Yip (2004) claim there is a very limited choice of green materials available. Uncertainty in performance coupled with a limited choice of green technologies and materials may discourage industry practitioners in adopting SC.…”

“…In addition, a low-level consciousness of SC is caused by a lack of related information and knowledge (Sakr, Sherif, & El-Haggar, 2010). Education and training in SC is rare due to heavy work commitments and lack of sponsorship from employers (Wong & Yip, 2004). This impedes the understanding and acceptance of SC, and consequently its adoption.…”

Cultural shift towards sustainability in the construction industry of Hong Kong

“…Ideas on construction culture were also drawn from the CIB study (Abeysekera, 2002). The studies of Poon (1997), Epstein and Roy (2001), Formoso et al (2002), Poon et al, (2003), Jaillon et al, (2004), and Wong and Yip (2004) on topics relating to planning and design for sustainability, sustainable construction, waste minimization, recycling of construction & demolition materials were duly referenced. Other than collecting demographic information of the respondents, the questionnaire is separated into five parts.…”

Waste reduction through incentives: a case study

“…Hendriks (1994) Certification will be issued for organizations which pass the tight quality control scheme for recycled aggregates. Wong et al (2003) A balanced theory is applied for achieving equilibrium between the supply of C&D wastes and the demand for recycled C&D secondary materials (C&D secondary materials employed / C&D wastes produced…”