Sustainable Techniques for Building Waste Disposal

Abstract

The building industry plays an important role in setting up the infrastructure needed for socio-economic sustainability. Owing to rapid urbanization, the substantial development of the construction industry has led to the formation of building material waste that has a negative impact on the environment, such as pollution of soil, air, and water. Building material (BM) waste consists primarily of inert and non-biodegradable materials such as concrete, plaster, metal, masonry, nonferrous metal, paper and cardboard, mortar, bricks, roofing tiles, glass, paints, pipes, electrical fixtures, wood, plastics, etc. These waste products contain large concentrations of toxicmaterials that have a detrimental effect on the atmosphere and the health of humans. During the building process, various hazardous compounds are released into the environment. The conventional approach to waste disposal has long been to deposit BM waste in sanitary landfills, but this would not be possible in the years to come. It is necessary to control and manage the production of BM waste. Sustainable management of waste produced from construction is becoming increasingly compulsory to protect public health, minimize environmental burden and preserve existing natural resources. Extensive research has been dedicated to encouraging the safe management and disposal of waste building materials. This chapter addresses the sustainability of waste from construction materials and describes the related management and disposal techniques for the protection of natural resources and the environment, such as reduction, reuse, recycling, and incineration.