Circularity of Household-Generated Construction and Demolition Waste: Management Principles for Green Transition in Latvia

Abstract

The chapter provides a holistic view of the construction waste problem, revealing the lack of a unified approach toward waste sorting and further reuse possibilities. The goal of the study is to investigate the principles of circular economy in building construction and demolition waste management and to find possible solutions for their development in household-generated waste management for green transition in Latvia. The current research presents the study of principles of circularity of household-generated waste based on a systematic literature review; data analysis gained out of the survey to draw practical suggestions for professionals towards sustainable development in the short-term and long-term future. The above-mentioned systematic analysis of the literature is grounded in text analytics; the best practices from Austria and Scandinavia were explored. The collected data on construction waste in Latvia were analyzed by applying statistical methods. The research results revealed a significant increase in building construction and demolition waste and the lack of circularity of them. The authors conclude that it is necessary to use best practices on how to apply circularity in building construction and demolition waste management and how to develop the cooperation links between local building authorities and householders using digital solutions for the green transition.