Use of recycled products in UK construction industry: An empirical investigation into critical impediments and strategies for improvement |
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| Institution: | 1. Bristol Enterprise, Research and Innovation Centre (BERIC), University of the West of England, Bristol, UK;2. Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria;1. College of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518068, China;2. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012 Beijing, China;1. RMIT University, School of Architecture and Design, Building 100, Victoria St & Swanston Streets, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia;2. RMIT University, School of Business, IT and Logistics, Handi Resco Building, 521 Kim Ma, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Viet Nam;3. RMIT University, School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia;1. Centre for Sustainable Road Freight School of Management and Languages, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, United Kingdom;2. Logistics and Supply Chain Management Research Centre, Sheffield University Management School, Conduit Road, Sheffield S10 1FL, United Kingdom;3. Kent Business School, University of Kent Canterbury, Kent CT2 7P, United Kingdom;1. KU Leuven, Department of Materials Engineering, KasteelPark Arenberg 44, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;2. KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;1. Bristol Enterprise, Research and Innovation Centre (BERIC), University of the West of England, Bristol, UK;2. Department of Architecture, Faculty of EDM, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria |
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| Abstract: | Construction industry consumes about half of all material resources taken from nature, and generates a large portion of waste to landfill. A way of tackling negative environmental impacts impending from continuous material extraction and waste generation is the use of recycled materials for construction projects. However, the use of recycled materials is yet to become a commonplace in construction industry. This study evaluates the factors hampering the use of recycled products in UK construction industry as well as strategies that could be adopted to enhance its use in the industry. In order to identify the impediments and critical strategies, a two-fold methodical approach was used. An unstructured interview preceded a quantitative questionnaire survey which was used to elicit broader industry practitioners’ opinion.The study shows that designers rarely specify recycled products. This is due to lack of adequate information about quality and market availability of the products, negative perception from clients, and unexpectedly high cost of the products, despite its perceived low quality. The study suggests that a number of strategies could be adopted to promote the use of the products. These include allocation of points to the use of recycled products in sustainable design appraisal tools, governments legislative measures, improved collaboration between designers, contractors and materials suppliers, contractors involvement at earlier stage of design, improved education of the professionals about the products, and the use of tax break to influence the cost of the products. The findings of this study would therefore help policy makers, manufacturers and construction professionals to identify the factors hampering the use of recycled products for construction projects as well as the strategies that could be adopted in order to create market for the products. |
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| Keywords: | Recycled products Construction industry Impediments and strategies Landfill Specification |
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