The Case for Sustainable Concrete Waste Management in Qatar

Abstract

The construction industry is a major generator of waste. There are many challenges associated with implementing sustainable methods to manage construction waste. While the construction industry in the State of Qatar has been adopting plenty of progressive practices, waste management, especially of concrete waste, has not advanced notably. In addition to the limited supply of limestone suitable for use as natural aggregate for concrete production in Qatar, the ability to recycle and reuse concrete waste is critical to reducing environmental impacts to meet national, regional and global environmental goals. Therefore, this research aims to identify the current status of concrete waste management practices in construction projects in Qatar exemplified by a local case-study project. Concrete waste was particularly monitored over the span of the construction stage of a large research and development facility in Qatar, benchmarking trends and practices on a certified “green” building. In response, this study addresses key challenges to concrete waste recycling and reuse to then recommend opportunities of advancements in local concrete waste management and reuse.

Toward the Circular Qatari Zero-Waste Management Sector

“…Given that Qatar is geographically and demographically small on global terms, its total waste generation is low compared to most nations, however when analyzed on a per capita basis, it has one of the highest waste generation rates in the world (Al-Thani & Park, 2019). The most significant solid waste categories generated in Qatar include municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition waste (CDW), bulky waste, end of life tires (ELT), and end of life vehicles (ELV).…”