Sustainability and Waste management in Construction

Driven by urbanization, population expansion and rising demand for homes, office space and retail locations, the construction industry is increasing, globally. By 2030, it is predicted that global construction production will increase by 85% to $15.5 trillion. The irresponsible use of energy and resources is also rising alarmingly in the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) circuit and other developing countries as construction activities increase. However, everything has its flip side and with the said boost, implementation of ‘sustainable waste management’ in the building industry is becoming extremely difficult.

Construction waste management is not only the responsibility of waste management firms and contractors; it is also the responsibility of individuals working on their own projects. Without proper collection, recycling and disposal of wastes, there is a genuine environmental risk that will eventually affect humans, plants and animals.

India must sketch out sustainable practices and conduct an in-depth analysis. And for this, a comprehensive strategy is required. The following considerations, however, can be taken into account, in order to have a thorough strategy for sustainable construction:

• Based on performance and service life; planning, design, and specifications should be there.
• Selection and Preservation of Materials
• Demolition and recycling
• Energy Conservation

But it can be well assumed that India is becoming more urbanised than its city planners can keep up with. In addition to constructing and restoring our homes and residential properties, we are also building factories, flyovers, industries, and commercial complexes. However, we do not pay enough attention to the waste we produce from construction and demolition such as bricks, concrete, stones, hardcore subsoil, topsoil, lumber, glass, gypsum, ceramics, and plastics. Both the environment and public health suffer when this trash is ignored.

Concerning the amount of C&D waste, there is no agreement that we have. In 2011, the Ministry of Urban Development, the Central Pollution Control Board revised its estimate from 12 million tonnes in 2011 to 25–30 million tonnes in its guidelines document from 2017. By assuming that 1/3rd of the stock of existing buildings underwent renovations or repairs in 2013, the Centre for Science and Environment went to the other extreme and calculated C&D waste at a monstrous 530 million tonnes for 2013. The Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council and the Centre for Fly Ash Research and Management, two government bodies, collectively estimated C&D waste in Indian cities at 165–175 million tonnes annually for the years 2005–2013. ?On vacant lots, along the sides of highways, beneath flyovers, next to lakes and rivers, in other low-lying places etc these materials are illegally deposited. Clearly visible examples of this behaviour, sometimes known as "fly-tipping," may be found throughout Delhi and Bengaluru.

The high concentration of particulate matter brought on by the building debris strewn throughout the city is largely to blame for Delhi's air pollution. Another effect is waterlogging, which has a negative impact on both the environment and public health because runoff from smooth surfaces gets caught in the debris. Similar problems have been confronted and addressed in other nations. Germany had a difficult time getting rid of the post-war bomb debris. In order to address this issue, a small hill outside of the city is today used for hand-gliding activities for civilians. In contrast to the past 20 years or so, there has been a greater understanding of the reuse and recycling possibilities of C&D waste into construction material and its implications for the conservation of natural resources. Previously, waste was typically sent to dump sites in many countries. According to research by the EU, recycling rates for C&D waste in EU nations peaked in the late 1990s at 28% on average. California, the most progressive state in the U.S.A, has enacted legislation that requires 50% recycling of C&D waste. Closer home, Singapore recycled 98% of its construction debris, by 2007. Recycling garbage in Hong Kong has led to the creation of recycled aggregates which are used in R&D and government projects. A thorough plan for the treatment of C&D trash was established in Taiwan in 1999 in response to the problem presented by the devastating earthquake that year, which caused damage to over 100,000 homes. However, India's track record pales in comparison. C&D trash was not even a thing till two years ago.

The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules were announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in 2016. However, in recognition of the significance of the rising volumes of C&D waste in urban areas as well as the methods of its recycling and reuse, the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules 2016 were separately notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the Solid Waste Management Rules. This was a reflection of the rising understanding of the necessity of managing municipal solid garbage and C&D waste separately. Urban local bodies must make sure that the rules are followed while builders and renovators are required to keep C&D garbage separate. In India, the C&D waste recycling sector is still quite young.

In recent years, the idea of better waste management is one of the key areas of concern for both the engineering and the building sector. Construction companies are taking waste management more seriously as public concern about carbon emissions, pollution and the expansion of landfill sites worldwide grows. The fundamental issue is that the construction industry consistently generates big volumes of garbage and it becomes almost impossible to shell out large amounts of money for disposing of those huge waste volumes, every time.

Way forward: India is a growing economy and hence the pressure on the use of natural resources is very heavy. Regardless, of the said fact, the importance of sustainability is not fully comprehended by the engineering fraternity as well as planners. Although some sporadic efforts are being carried out; however, these efforts are in an extremely nascent stage. Also, the use of renewable energy and resources is not a much sought-after option and is not given due importance as the initial costs are very high. The challenge lies in ensuring that the C&D waste comes to the recycling plants as segregated input and that the recycled products are picked up for use in construction. The government must raise public knowledge of the significance of recycled goods and must also set an example by abiding by the rules in its own construction endeavours. The incentives for the private sector must also be in line. For instance, levying a fair fee for disposal at dumpsites may persuade builders or owners to transfer C&D garbage to recycling facilities. Also reducing GST rates on goods made with recycled materials would be a significant additional step in this direction.