Construction waste management decision making process: identification, framework and detailed urban C&D waste profile analysis

Construction and demolition (C&D) activities require large inputs of resources and also create large outputs of waste while generating significant revenue and employment within the urban economy. As an intricate and multi-domain segment of building end-of-life (EOL) management, construction managers and other stakeholders within the waste management industry greatly influence decisions on the fate of C&D waste materials - whether they are landfilled, reused, or recycled. C&D waste is not federally regulated in the United States and the responsibility for reporting and tracking waste lies within the state and/or local government jurisdiction. Since reporting is not regulated, there are potential discrepancies in reporting of the quantities of C&D waste that are generated, recycled and disposed in landfills, and in the reporting frequency. We conduct a C&D waste audit through use of a multi-year data archive comprised of completed C&D projects in the greater Philadelphia area. This audit establishes a discrete, private industry data set that is normally confidential and unpublished from a local C&D waste reclamation center. The research may enable the early identification of sustainable practices for the owners, reducing demolition and hauling costs, rather than leaving secondary scrap markets to define which materials they will accept. We posit that higher recycling rates will be found within the city of Philadelphia relative to suburban recycling rates in greater Philadelphia and neighboring states. These rates will be higher based on established local infrastructure and the emergence of recipient markets and partnerships with construction industry material manufacturers. This collection of data may inform the decision makers, advance recycling within the construction industry, and minimize impact on local landfills. Recycling activities are occurring in the Philadelphia region which may point toward market maturity and establishe- infrastructure. The overall center diversion rates are consistent. The collected data could represent maturity over time and smaller secondary markets may continue to develop and may be supported by manufacturer recycling partnerships or local markets. Case study matches overall center performance which is on par with rates from developed countries.