The evolution of construction waste sorting on-site

Construction waste comprises inert (e.g., sand, bricks, and concrete) and non-inert materials (e.g., bamboo, plastics, glass, wood, and paper). In Hong Kong, the inert portion can be deposited at public filling areas for land reclamation while the non-inert portion is disposed of at landfills. However, construction waste is usually a mixture of both inert and non-inert materials and thus a segregation of the two portions is of paramount importance for effective waste minimization. Previous studies have revealed that construction contractors in Hong Kong were unwilling to carry out on-site construction waste sorting (CWS) even though it has numerous advantages. After a decade, the situation should have changed, particularly given the promulgation of a waste charging scheme in 2006 imposing levies on different methods of construction waste disposal. This study thus aims at ascertaining the state-of-the-art on-site CWS practices in Hong Kong, with a particular interest in its evolution over the past ten years. Data was collected through case studies of six construction sites where a hybrid research method included a literature review, non-participant observations, and interviews. It was found that construction waste management (CWM) regulations have significantly enhanced on-site CWS in Hong Kong. Site space and project stakeholders’ attitudes are still regarded as the most critical factors but labor and cost are no longer of major concerns in undertaking on-site CWS. Instead, a market for recyclables and an awareness of the profound environmental benefits are now perceived as being of major importance in these practices. Findings from the study can be used to review the effectiveness of current on-site CWS in Hong Kong, and through benchmarking they can also be used to develop good CWS practices in other economies.