Sustainable Construction Waste Management: Strategies for Efficiency and Environmental Impact

Abstract

Purpose – The rapid urban growth in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has significantly increased construction activities, resulting in substantial growth in Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW). There are numerous operational and environmental challenges associated with this increase. This study aims to develop a lifecycle-based sustainable CDW management system tailored for the UAE scenario. It addresses the urgent need to combine global waste reduction strategies with actual construction practices and local regulatory needs.
Design/methodology/approach – A desk-based research method was adopted, involving a systematic literature review of 50 industry and academic peer-reviewed sources. Identified waste reduction strategies were combined and mapped out according to five stages of the construction lifecycle: planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance, and end-of-life. A thematic analysis added context to these strategies by connecting each one with specific barriers, enabling conditions, and key stakeholders in the UAE.
Findings – The analysis highlights significant implementation gaps resulting from misaligned stakeholder incentives, inconsistent regulatory enforcement, and low technological integration within the UAE construction sector. The proposed lifecycle-based framework strategically sequences and prioritizes waste minimization interventions, explicitly linking each strategy to specific barriers and enablers.
Practical implications – The presented framework provides a useful decision-support tool for policymakers, contractors, consultants, and developers seeking to integrate sustainable waste practices throughout the project lifecycle. It offers guidance for aligning strategy deployment with constraints and opportunities in the UAE.
Originality/value – Unlike previous studies offering generalized solutions, this research uniquely integrates lifecycle thinking with explicit stakeholder roles, strategic sequencing, and UAE contextual conditions. It tackles critical gaps between theoretical ideas about sustainability and what is actually possible. This work makes a significant contribution to effectively putting sustainable CDW management practices into action in the UAE.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Malik Mansoor Ali Khalfan (Supervisor)