Search

Malaysia is facing an increase in the generation of waste and of accompanying problems with the disposal of this waste. In the last two decades, extensive building and infrastructure development projects have led to an increase in the generation of construction waste material. The construction industry has a substantial impact on the environment, and its environmental effects are in direct relation to the quality and quantity of the waste it generates. This paper discusses general characteristics of the construction contractors, the contractors' willingness to pay (WTP) for improved construction waste management, determining factors which affect the amount of their willingness to pay, and suggestions and policy implications in the perspective of construction waste management in Malaysia. The data in this study is based on contractors registered with the construction industry development board (CIDB) of Malaysia. Employing the open ended contingent valuation method, the study assessed the contractors' average maximum WTP for improved construction waste management to be RM69.88 (1US$=3.6 RM) per tonne of waste. The result shows that the average maximum WTP is higher for large contractors than for medium and small contractors. The highest average maximum WTP value is RM88.00 for Group A (large contractors) RM78.25 for Group B (medium-size contractors) and RM55.80 for Group C (small contractors). One of the contributions of this study is to highlight the difference of CIDB registration grade in the WTP for improved construction waste management. It is found that contractors' WTP for improved waste collection and disposal services increases with the increase in contractors' current paid up capital. The identified factors and determinants of the WTP will assist the formulation of appropriate policies in addressing the construction waste problem in Malaysia and indirectly improve the quality of construction in the country.

This paper focused on the roles and activities of waste dealers and the problems facing waste recycling enterprises in Malaysia. Ethnographic methodology such as interview with district officials of waste management, officials from Alam Flora (private waste concessioners) and waste dealers, participant and non participant observation was applied for in-depth understanding of waste recycling activities in Kuala Langat and Sepang districts of Selangor state in Malaysia. The study found that there are formal and informal recycling enterprises who deal on recycling of scrap metals, papers and plastic materials. The study further revealed that problems facing the waste dealers are in two folds such as inconsistent policies on the part of the local councils on mode of business operation for waste dealers and the issue of business registration of their waste enterprise. The findings also revealed that there is so much bureaucracy in registration of waste enterprise with local councils which resulted in many illegal waste operators in these areas. It is of the view of the waste dealers that to reduce illegal disposal of waste in the districts by waste dealers, business registration and operation must be transparent to reduce illegal dumping of both hazardous waste and municipal waste. The implications of this findings is that the challenges of the waste dealers discussed in this study if taken care of could play a crucial role in the government's effort in achieving 40% recycling target by 2020 in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, there has not yet been any widely published research that has described contractor attitudes and behaviors regarding waste management including waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Taken together, these attitudes and behaviors are crucial to understanding how construction waste management problems might be resolved. As the Malaysian construction industry is still labor-intensive, the attitudes and behaviors of individuals involved in this industry influence its growth and performance. This paper intends to provide insights on how contractor attitudes and behaviors affect waste management in the construction industry of Malaysia. A structured questionnaire survey was implemented in order to interview local contractors. This paper utilizes logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between various factors affecting contractor attitudes and behaviors regarding waste management. The results show that contractor attitudes and behaviors regarding waste management tend to differ based on the size of the contractor, which is indicated by its group or category. Contractors that have positive attitudes toward waste management also have satisfactory behaviors, supporting Ajzen''s theory of planned behavior. The important and significant factors that affect contractor attitudes toward waste management include contractor size, source reduction, reuse and recycling measures, frequency of waste collection, staff participation in training programs and waste disposal method. Factors such as construction-related education among employees, contractor experience in construction works, source-reduction measures, reuse of materials, waste disposal behaviors and attitudes toward waste management are the most significant factors affecting contractor behavior on waste management. These factors influence contractor attitudes and behaviors and are necessary to effectively improve waste management, growth and performance, as well as to reduce the environmental degradation of the construction industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Construction waste has a major impact on the environment. With the demands in implementing major infrastructure projects in Malaysia, together with many commercial building and housing development programmes, a large amount of construction waste is being produced by the construction sector. Thus, waste minimisation is an important area of concern in the implementation of the construction waste management in the construction industry of Malaysia. This study identified 12 waste minimisation factors (WMF) in implementing construction waste management in the construction industry. This study provides empirical evidence on the significant level of contribution and the level of practice among the waste minimisation factors by following the model of weighted average and minimisation and practiced index value. The results of the analysis indicate the most significant, least significant and significant factors that contribute to waste minimisation and the most practiced, least practiced and practiced waste minimisation factors in the Malaysian construction industry. The findings will assist in the formulation of appropriate policy interventions in addressing the construction waste management problem in Malaysia and indirectly improving the quality of construction in the country. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Construction waste is becoming a serious environmental problem in many large cities in the world. In Malaysia, the construction industry generates lots of construction waste which caused significant impacts on the environment and aroused growing public concern in the local community. Thus, the minimisation of construction wastes has become a pressing issue. This paper is based on a case study which involved construction waste generation and composition as well as reuse and recycling in the site. The case study also analysed the economic feasibility of waste minimisation such as reusing and recycling of construction waste materials by performing a benefit–cost analysis. This study provides an idea of the amount of waste generation, sources and compositions as well as reuse and recycling of materials on the construction sites taking into account the economic dimension. The study shows that waste minimisation is economically feasible and also plays an important role for the improvement of environmental management. In this view, economic instruments for minimising construction waste can be used to raise revenue for environmental policy, encourage prevention efforts, serve to discourage the least desirable disposal practices, as well as to avoid the negative consequences of environmental unfriendly treatment and disposal practices of construction waste materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]