Quantifying building construction and demolition waste using permit data

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste generated from construction projects impacts the environment if not managed properly; appropriate C&D waste management is therefore necessary. The first step in this practice is the estimation of the quantity of C&D waste generated. The literature recommends numerous approaches for the quantification of C&D waste in a region based on the availability of data pertaining to construction and demolition activity and the accuracy of the estimate required. The major obstacle in this process is the nonavailability of data in developing countries such as India. A novel approach for gathering such information and processing it further to quantify and manage C&D waste is presented in this study. The study was conducted in the Indian city of Hyderabad during the January 2017 to December 2020 period. The C&D waste data were ascertained based on the building permits issued during this period. Quantitative analysis was conducted to identify the proportion of different types of buildings for which permits were issued, number of buildings demolished before the construction of new buildings, types of buildings demolished, and C&D waste generated using a random sampling technique. Furthermore, regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the built-up area and the building permit fee collected by the town planning department. The results of this analysis allowed for the calculation of the total construction area of buildings based on the fee collected for issuing the permit. The suggested approach is beneficial, especially in developing countries where data pertaining to construction activity in a region are scarcely available. The findings of this study will help waste governors and policy makers formulate policies for effectively and efficiently managing C&D waste.