Recycling Steel for Circular Economy: Exploring the Steel Recovery & Recycling Rates in UAE Construction Industry

Abstract

The growing demand for construction materials in the UAE, coupled with environmental concerns such as climate change and resource depletion, underscores the need for sustainable practices in the construction industry. This research investigates the recycling rates of steel within the UAE construction sector and assesses the environmental and economic benefits of increasing steel scrap recycling. Through data collection from industry stakeholders and a quantitative sensitivity analysis, the study evaluates the impact of varying steel recycling rates from 14% to 40%,70% and 100%. The findings reveal that increasing the steel scrap content in production can reduce energy consumption by 40% and significantly lower CO2 emissions, up to 37%. Despite the potential additional cost of $17.88 per tonne of steel produced using 100% scrap, the cost of CO2 reduction is considerably lower than proposed carbon taxes, making it a cost-effective solution. Furthermore, increasing steel recycling could reduce landfill needs and lead to substantial cost savings, especially with government support.

Date of Award	28 Nov 2024
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Malik Mansoor Ali Khalfan (Supervisor)