8. Measures to Divert Construction and Demotion Waste from Landfill Disposal

The construction industry contributes a considerable share of total waste, which is disposed off at landfill facilities. Disposing construction and demolition waste (CDW) results to a number of environmental challenges including the release of greenhouse gas emissions, pollution of land and water resources, destruction of habitats and land degradation in addition to human health effects. For this reason, recent advances are focusing on reversing the environmental and human health effects of CDW disposal by rerouting it in a circular economy, which prioritizes on waste valorization, reduction, recovery and recycling as is the focus of this chapter. The chapter discussed routes such as construction product modification and substitution, application of the waste hierarchy, use waste for energy recovery and backfilling and policy interventions such as disposal charges, taxation and economic instruments, which can be used to infuse CDW to a circular economy. The effectiveness of the strategies can be enhanced through the appropriate use of waste management plans and via intensive training to all stakeholders in the construction sector. The aim of the approaches is to promote lean engineering through efficient use of construction raw materials while reducing the use and costs of producing virgin raw materials. Using the South African case study, diverting CDW to a circular economy is at the nascent stages in developing countries and must be reinforced by appropriate action plans, financial support, intensive training to involved stakeholders and through appropriate policy use and enforcement.