Revamping End-of Life Waste Management in Buildings / Nurul Ahsha Binti Haji Roslan

Dissertation Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master in Science

ABSTRACT
Waste generated from demolition of buildings at their end-of-life (BOL) stage forms the highest volume in construction. Most of such wastes are thrown away, although they contain higher share of recoverable materials and components, and contribute to environmental degradation, economic loss and resource depletion. This can be
significantly saved by deploying the principles of Circular Economy (CE), through using building information modelling (BIM) and extensively practicing alternate/modern methods of construction (MMC). However, country specific design and waste
management practices should be identified and included in a regulatory framework, along with their barriers and relevant strategies. This study was approached through the multiple methods of structured literature review, a questionnaire survey, and a mini validation survey. The literature review offered insights and inter-relatedness between CE and MMC in reducing EOL waste, and how BIM can assist in their practice. The questionnaire survey assessed industry awareness on the conceptualization, identified underlying issues and prioritized various strategies/methods of CE underpinned BIM-based MMC practices. Overall, the findings revealed that although construction
stakeholders are generally aware of EOL waste management, the lack of education and training is perceived as a major factor hindering its effective implementation.
Stakeholders noted that BIM, particularly its cost-benefit analysis feature, can play a crucial role in helping companies make informed decisions and reduce long-term costs, thereby supporting EOL waste practices. Consequently, the most strategic course of action is to implement clear guidelines for the use of recycled or recovered construction materials, along with strengthened government support. A framework was formulated based on these survey outcomes, which was refined, further developed and validated through the interview-based mini validation survey. This framework presents the existing waste management practices, highlighting the generation and flow of waste from the initial extraction of raw materials to the final disposal. For the proposed EOL waste management, the framework then emphasizes on the design phase, particularly through the integration of various CE underpinned BIM-based MMC techniques, and the EOL phase to promote CE underpinned conservation efforts namely reduce, reuse, and recycle.
It also clarifies how recovered materials can be effectively repurposed in new construction, eventually contributing to more efficient and environmentally friendly practices in the industry. As such, this framework will further empower regulators to establish effective policies while providing implementers with a clear roadmap for adopting CE-supported EOL waste management practices.

Dissertation (Master of Science) - Universiti Teknologi Brunei

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