CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

This article evaluated the knowledge of Construction Waste Management (CWM) among contractors in Gqeberha and establish what legislative shortcomings were there in terms of CWM regulations. The reduction in landfilling could decrease the waste management cost for construction companies, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. This article used a qualitative design approach. The primary data was obtained through structured interviews from a selected number of main contractors in Gqeberha. The study focused on on-site agents, contracts managers, and Health Safety and Envronment officers through a nonprobability sampling technique. The study reveled that the lack of government legislation, to discourage the landfilling of waste, was the main catalyst. The primary data also stated that the lack of recycling facilities also contributed to the abundance of landfilling waste among contractors in Gqeberha. The research findings also showed that contractors in Gqeberha were knowledgeable on several construction waste management strategies. Future research will require contractors to research the potential economic benefits of CWM, as well as minimisation and recovery CWM strategies, and the local municipality to explore methods of discouraging landfilling waste, within the construction industry and in other sectors, as well as the economic and environmental benefits of CWM. The article provided insight concerning the CW and CWM practices among contractors in Gqeberha, including identifying the interventions required to address shortcomings.