Environmental sustainability factors in construction waste recycling: A systematic review

Abstract

The construction industry is one of the largest contributors to global waste production, significantly impacting environmental sustainability (ES). This research explores the challenges and opportunities associated with construction and demolition (CnD) waste management across various international contexts. The study reviews waste management practices in different countries, analysing waste generation volumes and the strategies employed to mitigate their impact. Additionally, it examines emerging ES factors in construction waste recycling, emphasising waste stream identification, target reduction rates and best practices to minimise the ecological footprint. The key factors identified in this study include waste reduction (WR), regulations and compliance, environment-oriented human perception (EOHP), recycling infrastructure (RI), resource conservation (RC), carbon emissions reduction (CER), waste diversion (WD), community engagement (CE) and the overall environmental sustainability of construction waste recycling (ESCWM). These insights aim to enhance sustainable waste management practices and support the development of effective environmental policies.