Bohne, R A (2005) Eco-efficiency and performance strategies in construction and demolition waste recycling systems. PhD thesis, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Norway.
Abstract
This thesis studies the Danish and Norwegian recycling systems for construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is a major contributor to societies waste production; accounting for approximately 40% of the waste production. It is therefore important to manage the C&D waste effectively to move society towards sustainability. This study applies the Industrial Ecology paradigm. This involved multidisciplinary approach, spanning the fields of Industrial Ecology, Systems Engineering and Organizational and Social Studies. The scope of this thesis is threefold. The first scope is to get a better understanding of the processes that are taking place within the socio-technical sphere of a recycling system. Second, what is the nature of the C&D waste and what are the environmental impacts from the various waste fractions. Third, how can this information be used to improve recycling systems for C&D waste. The study show that the suggestions in the National Action Plan and the corresponding policies are eco-effective, but that the environmental impact is very transport dependent. The study also shows that there is a great need to focus on future waste composition in the design of recycling systems for C&D waste. However, such waste projections are difficult to perform due to poor data availability. There is a need for making more qualified decisions on environmental issues, with regard to long term management of such recycling systems. Long term models combined with environmental and economic information can make a powerful tool for such analysis.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | sustainability; systems engineering; architectural engineering; recycling; environmental impact |
| Index terms: | systems engineering, ecology, recycling, eco-efficiency, socio-technical, paradigm, architectural engineering, construction and demolition, strategy, society, environmental issue, accounting, environmental impact |
| Subjects: | economic analysis, environmental science, environmental impact, waste management, environmental issues, systems engineering, communities and social development, research methods, management, sustainability assessment, education and knowledge transfer, design practice |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Design Practice, Sustainability, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here