CANBERRA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Near-zero waste is achievable in regional construction projects when waste reduction is prioritized from the start, Australian research has revealed.
North Australia's Charles Darwin University (CDU) research applied circular economy principles -- reusing, repairing, and recycling materials -- during a campus renovation to reduce waste, addressing the construction sector's 30 percent global waste contribution, according to a CDU statement on Wednesday.
The study identified client willingness to prioritize sustainability as the main barrier to reducing construction waste.
In the CDU renovation, strong client leadership encouraged reuse of materials like glass, timber, and ceiling frames, reducing landfill waste by sorting and redirecting recyclables locally, researchers said.
"Since the client appoints the architect, project manager, builder and any other consultant, their acceptance of a circular economy practice in building construction projects is critical to the adoption of circularity aspects," said CDU Senior Research Fellow Deepika Mathur, who led the study.
Mathur highlighted ongoing challenges like limited local recycling, high transport costs for interstate waste, and small businesses' lack of waste management knowledge.
The study, detailed in Urban Research & Practice published with the European Urban Research Association, recommends policy reforms, industry training, and incentives such as transport subsidies and regional environmental ratings to address these issues. ■
