Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition Projects
The construction, demolition, and renovation industries are among the largest contributors to global carbon emissions and waste. With decreased landfill capacities, increased waste diversion targets, resource shortages, and the recognition that material waste is critical to climate change, diverting...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Recycling |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/9/6/114 |
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| author | Mariah Saad Rajeev Ruparathna Nihar Biswas Edwin Tam |
| author_facet | Mariah Saad Rajeev Ruparathna Nihar Biswas Edwin Tam |
| author_sort | Mariah Saad |
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| description | The construction, demolition, and renovation industries are among the largest contributors to global carbon emissions and waste. With decreased landfill capacities, increased waste diversion targets, resource shortages, and the recognition that material waste is critical to climate change, diverting demolition waste is now a significant priority in waste management. Deconstructing a structure and reusing its building components can significantly reduce the environmental burdens imposed. However, to optimize the reuse of building materials and components for their environmental, societal, and economical benefits, the reclamation procedure must be undertaken in a more rational and robust manner. There are currently gaps in frameworks and tools that involve the assessment of reusable building components in demolition projects. This paper develops a reclamation framework to assess the viability of recovering and reusing building components. The framework first describes a process for conducting a technical audit and uses an assessment tool to suggest a level of deconstruction based on the physical parameters of the building circumstances. The framework complements this initial outcome by then assessing additional comprehensive parameters, such as the cost, the heritage value, and the available timeframe to arrive at a suggested outcome of actions, which can range from complete demolition and basic material recovery to deliberately removing salvageable items. The framework is then applied to an older, detached office building as a conceptual case study for demonstration. The recommended level of deconstruction appears appropriate based on the visual assessment of the structure. The result of this paper promotes the circular economy and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) by presenting a notably more insightful and guided approach to capturing deconstruction waste. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a45d28c11c0942819bb3bc9bc88a5916 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2313-4321 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Recycling |
| spelling | doaj-art-a45d28c11c0942819bb3bc9bc88a59162024-12-27T14:50:08ZengMDPI AGRecycling2313-43212024-11-019611410.3390/recycling9060114Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition ProjectsMariah Saad0Rajeev Ruparathna1Nihar Biswas2Edwin Tam3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaThe construction, demolition, and renovation industries are among the largest contributors to global carbon emissions and waste. With decreased landfill capacities, increased waste diversion targets, resource shortages, and the recognition that material waste is critical to climate change, diverting demolition waste is now a significant priority in waste management. Deconstructing a structure and reusing its building components can significantly reduce the environmental burdens imposed. However, to optimize the reuse of building materials and components for their environmental, societal, and economical benefits, the reclamation procedure must be undertaken in a more rational and robust manner. There are currently gaps in frameworks and tools that involve the assessment of reusable building components in demolition projects. This paper develops a reclamation framework to assess the viability of recovering and reusing building components. The framework first describes a process for conducting a technical audit and uses an assessment tool to suggest a level of deconstruction based on the physical parameters of the building circumstances. The framework complements this initial outcome by then assessing additional comprehensive parameters, such as the cost, the heritage value, and the available timeframe to arrive at a suggested outcome of actions, which can range from complete demolition and basic material recovery to deliberately removing salvageable items. The framework is then applied to an older, detached office building as a conceptual case study for demonstration. The recommended level of deconstruction appears appropriate based on the visual assessment of the structure. The result of this paper promotes the circular economy and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) by presenting a notably more insightful and guided approach to capturing deconstruction waste.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/9/6/114demolitionwastereclamationframeworkcircular economyreuse potential |
| spellingShingle | Mariah Saad Rajeev Ruparathna Nihar Biswas Edwin Tam Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition Projects Recycling demolition waste reclamation framework circular economy reuse potential |
| title | Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition Projects |
| title_full | Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition Projects |
| title_fullStr | Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition Projects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition Projects |
| title_short | Developing a Reclamation Framework to Promote Circularity in Demolition Projects |
| title_sort | developing a reclamation framework to promote circularity in demolition projects |
| topic | demolition waste reclamation framework circular economy reuse potential |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/9/6/114 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariahsaad developingareclamationframeworktopromotecircularityindemolitionprojects AT rajeevruparathna developingareclamationframeworktopromotecircularityindemolitionprojects AT niharbiswas developingareclamationframeworktopromotecircularityindemolitionprojects AT edwintam developingareclamationframeworktopromotecircularityindemolitionprojects |