Main challenges to concrete recycling in practice

While concrete recycling is crucial to protecting the environment, its implementation in practice is low in many countries. This study aims to highlight challenges to concrete recycling. To achieve that aim, the study objectives are (1) to identify the main challenges to concrete recycling in construction projects; (2) to compare the main challenges between small–medium enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LEs); and (3) to determine the underlying groups among the main challenges. Potential challenges were identified through a systematic literature review of journal articles and semi-structured interviews with fifteen industry practitioners. Then, the identified challenges were inserted into a questionnaire survey and distributed to industry practitioners. Eighty-nine valid responses were collected and analyzed using the mean score ranking, normalization, agreement analysis, and factor analysis techniques. The analyses show thirteen main challenges to concrete recycling. The main challenges include increased project duration, lack of national programs, lack of comprehensive rules and regulations, increased project cost, low demand for recycled concrete, low cost-effectiveness of concrete recycling, and increased transportation cost. However, there is no consensus on the criticality between SMEs and LEs. For example, increased project cost is the main challenge for SMEs but is only middlingly ranked for LEs. Finally, the main challenges can be categorized into three interrelated groups: people and technical, legal and environmental, and economic challenges. This study contributes to the literature by analyzing challenges that hinder concrete recycling in practice. The findings allow researchers and practitioners to develop strategies to reduce concrete recycling rejection

Factors Affecting Concrete Recycling Adoption in the Construction Projects

Recycling addresses environmental issues associated with solid waste by minimizing overall resource consumption and environmental impact. In the construction industry, concrete recycling is crucial because concrete is the most dominant waste of construction and demolition waste. However, its implementation is at a low level in numerous countries becauseconstruction managers refuse to adopt concrete recycling in practice. This study's objective is to identify factors that are affecting decisions in adopting concrete recycling from the constructionmanagers' perspective. To achieve this objective, open-ended interview data with constructionmanagers are analyzed. Eleven factors affecting decisions in adopting concrete recycling inure identified. The factors are recycling factories, availability of raw material, quality, cost, reliable standard, government encouragement, legally, acceptance factor, proper planning, skilled workforce, and management. This research contributes to the body of knowledge in the analysis of factors that influence the acceptance of concrete recycling from industry practitioners' perspectives, which could help researchers and industry practitioners develop strategies to reduce the rejection of concrete recycling among construction managers. The findings of this research would help improve the success of adopting concrete recycling in the construction industry

Critical Success Factors for Concrete Recycling in Construction Projects

This study explores the success factors of concrete recycling in construction projects, using Malaysia as a case study. The objectives include (1) identifying the critical success factors for concrete recycling in construction projects, (2) comparing the critical success factors between large enterprises (LEs) and small–medium enterprises (SMEs), and (3) developing constructs that group the critical success factors. First, a list of success factors was identified through semi-structured interviews with fifteen construction industry professionals and a systematic literature review of journal articles. This list was then incorporated into a questionnaire and disseminated to industry professionals. Eighty-nine valid responses were collected and analyzed using mean score ranking, normalization, agreement analysis, and factor analysis techniques. The analyses showed ten critical success factors for concrete recycling. The critical success factors include the availability of uniform standards for concrete recycling, adequate awareness among project stakeholders on concrete recycling, appropriate construction waste management plans, government policies to support concrete recycling, good marketing strategy for concrete recycling, good communication among employees, applications for recycled concrete in sub-industries, provisions in work method statements on concrete recycling, positive legislation toward concrete recycling, and availability of concrete recycling infrastructure. However, the percentage of agreement between SMEs and LEs for the ten critical success factors was only 22%. In other words, there is no consensus on criticality across organizational sizes. Finally, the critical success factors can be categorized into two interrelated groups: external and internal. This study contributes to the literature by analyzing the necessary success factors for concrete recycling. The study findings allow researchers and practitioners to develop strategies to promote concrete recycling

Success Factors for Construction Waste Recycling in Developing Countries: A Project Management Perspective

Construction industries around the world are generating a large number of wastes that end at landfills every year, and recycling is one of the approaches for minimizing that amount. While various strategies have been adopted in practice, recycling rates of construction projects are still at a low level in numerous countries. Therefore, identifying factors that influence the successful recycling of construction waste is crucial. This study identifies the success factors for recycling construction waste from industry practitioners’ perspectives. To achieve this objective, interview data with project managers are analyzed using the thematic analysis. The major findings from the analysis are: (1) the success factors relate to both people or process; (2) people-related factors involve having individuals that are highly competent, aware on construction waste recycling, and knowledgeable; (3) process-related factors include having a detailed project planning, adequate education and training programs, clear project scope and design, effective procurement system, and consistent monitoring of the construction waste recycling system; and (4) the criticality of the success factors differs between developing countries. This research adds to the body of knowledge by providing a set of success factors for recycling construction waste, which can assist researchers and practitioners in developing strategies to increase recycling rates of construction projects