Stakeholder perspectives reveal significant barriers to circular construction waste management in Kuwait

Why It Matters

Understanding the nuanced challenges faced by various stakeholders is crucial for developing targeted strategies to improve construction and demolition waste (CDW) management. Addressing these barriers can unlock opportunities for resource efficiency and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

Key Finding

Stakeholders in Kuwait's construction sector identify a critical need for enhanced awareness, stronger legislative enforcement, and a clearer demonstration of the economic benefits of recycling to move towards circular construction practices.

Key Findings

• Current waste management procedures are insufficient for achieving circular construction goals and the 4R framework (reduce, reuse, recycle, recover).
• Raising stakeholder and public awareness regarding the benefits of waste management and recycling is essential.
• Emphasizing the economic and financial advantages of recycled products can drive adoption.
• There is a need for stricter enforcement of existing environmental legislation and regulations for better CDW control.

Research Evidence

Aim: What are the primary obstacles to implementing effective construction and demolition waste management practices that align with circular construction principles from the perspective of key stakeholders in Kuwait?

Method: Mixed-methods research

Procedure: The research involved a comprehensive literature review to understand existing CDW management policies and challenges, followed by a quantitative survey distributed to 42 relevant stakeholders and qualitative interviews with five key individuals representing governmental bodies and industry.

Sample Size: 47 participants (42 survey respondents, 5 interviewees)

Context: Construction and demolition waste management in Kuwait

Design Principle

Design for Disassembly and Material Circularity: Prioritize the use of materials that can be easily recovered, reused, or recycled at the end of a building's life, and design structures that facilitate this process.

How to Apply

When designing new construction projects or planning renovations, actively research and specify materials that have high recycled content or are designed for easy disassembly and reuse. Engage with local waste management authorities and suppliers to understand available recycling infrastructure and potential markets for salvaged materials.

Limitations

The study's findings are specific to the context of Kuwait and may not be directly generalizable to other regions without further investigation. The relatively small number of interviewees might limit the depth of insights from specific organizational perspectives.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: People in the construction industry in Kuwait find it hard to recycle building waste because not enough people know about it, the rules aren't followed strictly, and it's not always clear how it saves money.

Why This Matters: This research highlights that even with facilities, recycling doesn't happen effectively without buy-in from everyone involved and clear benefits. This is important for any design project aiming for sustainability.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can technological solutions overcome deeply ingrained cultural or economic barriers to sustainable waste management?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This research underscores the critical role of stakeholder perspectives in achieving sustainable construction practices. The study by Al-Raqeb et al. (2023) identifies significant barriers to circular construction waste management in Kuwait, including a lack of awareness, insufficient legislative enforcement, and a need to highlight economic benefits. These findings are relevant to our design project as they emphasize that technical solutions alone are insufficient; effective implementation requires addressing the human and systemic factors that influence adoption.

Project Tips

• When researching waste management, consider the perspectives of different groups involved (e.g., builders, regulators, recyclers).
• Investigate existing policies and regulations related to waste in your chosen context and assess their effectiveness.
• Explore the economic arguments for sustainable practices, not just the environmental ones.

How to Use in IA

• Use this study to justify the importance of stakeholder consultation in your design project, especially when dealing with waste or sustainability goals.
• Reference the findings on awareness and economic incentives when discussing the challenges and opportunities for implementing your design solution.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of the systemic barriers to implementing sustainable design solutions, not just the technical aspects.
• Show how your design addresses not only functional requirements but also the socio-economic and regulatory context.

Independent Variable: ["Stakeholder awareness of recycling benefits","Enforcement of environmental legislation","Economic incentives for recycling"]

Dependent Variable: ["Effectiveness of CDW management practices","Adoption of circular construction principles"]

Controlled Variables: ["Specific context of Kuwait's construction industry","Existing waste management infrastructure"]

Strengths

• Utilizes a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data.
• Focuses on the crucial stakeholder perspective, which is often overlooked in technical studies.
• Provides actionable recommendations for policy and practice.

Critical Questions

• How can the economic benefits of recycling be more effectively communicated to diverse stakeholder groups?
• What specific mechanisms can ensure more robust enforcement of existing environmental regulations in the construction sector?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the feasibility of implementing a pilot program for construction waste segregation and recycling in a specific community or project, analyzing the stakeholder engagement and economic viability.
• Develop a comparative study of CDW management policies and their effectiveness across different countries, identifying best practices and transferable strategies.

Source

Understanding the challenges of construction demolition waste management towards circular construction: Kuwait Stakeholder’s perspective · Cleaner Waste Systems · 2023 · 10.1016/j.clwas.2023.100075