Hiete, M; Stengel, J; Ludwig, J and Schultmann, F (2011) Matching construction and demolition waste supply to recycling demand: A regional management chain model. Building Research & Information, 39(4), pp. 333-351. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Construction and demolition (CD) waste can be either directly disposed in landfills or processed in recycling plants as aggregates. Depending upon its physical properties, this recycled waste can be used in a variety of construction applications and also reduce dependence on natural aggregates. Since the recycling of CD waste reduces landfill and conserves natural aggregate resources, most environmental policies aim at increasing CD recycling. An optimization model is presented to understand the dynamics and planning of a CD waste recycling network as an integrated set of supply-and-demand chains at the regional level. The model optimizes for minimum costs, includes assessment of technical and environmental performance, and shows the effects of potential policy interventions. A case study using the model revealed that disposal taxes are a cost-effective lever to increase total recycling, but not necessarily high-quality recycling. Increased transport costs reduce the recycling rate considerably, as recycling requires longer transport distances than disposal. The expected strong increase in the supply of CD waste associated with the population decline (and associated shrinkage) projected for 2050 in Germany requires new sinks, e.g. intensified use of recycled aggregates in concrete, to preserve current high recycling rates.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction and demolition waste; demand management; mass flows; population decline; recycling network; waste management |
| Index terms: | physical property, recycling, environmental performance, landfill, construction and demolition, population, recycled aggregate, demand management, dynamics, aggregate, case study, Germany, waste management, environmental policy |
| Subjects: | materials science, systems engineering, public policy, waste management, material properties and characteristics, market analysis, demography, health safety and environment, data collection methods, Geography, sustainability assessment |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Sustainability, Urban Studies, Governance, Construction Materials, Geographical Context, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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