학술논문

Institutional and Actor Network Perspectives of Waste Management in Australia: Is the Construction Industry Prepared for a Circular Economy?
Document Type
Survey
Source
Sustainability. January, 2024, Vol. 16 Issue 2
Subject
Australia
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
Language
English
ISSN
2071-1050
Abstract
Waste management and minimization are touted to be two of the key drivers for greening the construction industry and a pathway to a circular economy. This research aims to revisit the attitudes and perceptions of project stakeholders towards construction and demolition (C&D) waste in the Australian construction industry and ascertain if the current state of play in construction would facilitate the transition to a circular economy. Statistical analysis was performed on an online survey dataset collected from 104 professionals within the Australian construction supply chain. The results reveal that construction professionals’ attitudes and perceptions to C&D waste could be classified into normative, regulatory and cultural cognitive drivers. Also, the perceived barriers and strategies of C&D waste management vary across design consultants and principal and sub-contractors. Overall, the evidence is suggestive that the Australian construction industry seems not fully ready for a circular economy. In terms of research implications, clearer guidelines and mandatory approaches to C&D waste management, involving a balance of incentivization and dis-incentivization actions, and close and stronger collaborations between the industry and government, are deemed necessary for better C&D waste management performance and the realization of a greener industry.
Author(s): Benson Teck Heng Lim; Bee Lan Oo (corresponding author) [*]; Charlie McLeod; Pengqi Yang 1. Introduction In Australia, the National Waste Report by the Department of Agriculture, Water and [...]