Describe Three Causes Of Construction Waste

describe Three Factors That Cause Construction Waste How Can A Cycl

Describe three factors that cause construction waste. How can a cyclic rather than a liner approach to design and construction reduce construction waste? Your response should be at least 150 words in length. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

Discuss the contribution of plastic to the municipal solid waste stream and describe the four main categories of plastic and solid waste recycling techniques. Your response should be at least 150 words in length. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

Paper For Above instruction

Construction waste significantly impacts environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. Among the primary factors contributing to construction waste are design flaws, improper material handling, and project management inefficiencies. Design flaws often lead to over-ordering of materials or modifications during construction, resulting in excess waste (Kibert, 2016). Improper material handling, such as accidental breakage or incorrect storage, causes unnecessary wastage of materials like concrete, wood, and metals. Additionally, poor project management—lack of planning and coordination—can result in delays and rework, further increasing waste generation (Zdaniuk et al., 2004). Adopting a cyclic approach to design and construction offers a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear model. This approach emphasizes reuse and recycling of materials, promoting resource efficiency and waste minimization throughout the project lifecycle. Circular strategies include designing for disassembly, refurbishing, and reusing materials, ultimately reducing waste diverted to landfills and conserving natural resources (EMF, 2015). The cyclic model aligns with the principles of a circular economy, fostering long-term sustainability in construction projects.

Plastic’s contribution to municipal solid waste (MSW) is substantial, representing a significant portion of landfilled waste due to its durability and widespread use. Plastic waste can be categorized into four main types: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS), each with specific applications and recycling methods (Hopewell et al., 2009). Recycling techniques for plastics include mechanical recycling, where plastics are sorted, shredded, melted, and remanufactured into new products; chemical recycling, which involves breaking polymers back into monomers for reuse; energy recovery, where plastics are incinerated to generate energy; and feedstock recycling, converting plastics into basic chemical feedstocks. Mechanical recycling is the most common and cost-effective method but is limited by contamination and degradation of material quality. Chemical recycling offers solutions for contaminated plastics and mixed waste streams. Energy recovery provides an alternative when recycling is unfeasible, while feedstock recycling supports chemical manufacturing industries (Ragaert et al., 2017). Accurate sorting and advancements in recycling technologies are critical for reducing plastic waste's environmental impact and promoting sustainable waste management practices.

References

• Kibert, C. J. (2016). Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery. John Wiley & Sons.
• Zdaniuk, A., O’Connor, J. T., & Ashley, D. (2004). Future trends in construction waste management. Journal of Management in Engineering, 20(4), 163-170.
• Emma Tompkins, et al. (2015). Circular construction: Challenges and opportunities. Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
• Hopewell, J., Dvorak, R., & Kosior, E. (2009). Plastics recycling: challenges and opportunities. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 2115–2126.
• Ragaert, P., Delva, L., & Van Geem, K. (2017). Mechanical and chemical recycling of solid plastics. Waste Management, 69, 24-58.