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Rapid urbanization, infrastructure expansion, and large-scale redevelopment activities have resulted in a substantial increase in the generation of construction and demolition (C&D) waste across the world. In developing countries such as India, C&D waste is predominantly viewed as an environmental and logistical burden rather than a valuable secondary resource. Consequently, large quantities of reusable materials are disposed of through uncontrolled dumping and inefficient handling practices, leading to severe environmental degradation, loss of recoverable materials, and increased pressure on natural resources. Simultaneously, the construction industry continues to rely heavily on virgin materials, particularly natural aggregates, which accelerates resource depletion, disturbs ecological balance, and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions associated with extraction, processing, and transportation activities.
Recycling and reuse of C&D waste are widely recognized as effective strategies for promoting sustainable construction and supporting circular economy objectives. A growing body of research has demonstrated the technical feasibility of utilizing recycled C&D materials in various construction applications, including road sub-bases, embankments, backfilling, pavement layers, and non-structural concrete. These practices offer multiple benefits such as conservation of natural aggregates, reduction in landfill dependency, and mitigation of environmental impacts. However, despite the availability of recycling technologies and well-documented environmental advantages, the actual utilization of recycled C&D waste in mainstream construction projects remains limited, particularly in developing economies.
This persistent gap between technical feasibility and practical implementation indicates that the challenges associated with C&D waste utilization extend beyond material performance considerations. Existing literature highlights that adoption is significantly influenced by a complex interplay of institutional frameworks, economic constraints, management practices, health and safety concerns, and stakeholder perceptions. Factors such as unclear regulatory provisions, weak enforcement mechanisms, lack of financial incentives, resistance to change from conventional construction practices, and limited confidence in recycled materials collectively restrict widespread adoption. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these barriers is essential to formulate effective strategies that can enhance the utilization of C&D waste and promote sustainable construction practices.
Keywords:
Construction and demolition waste; Sustainable construction; Stakeholder perception; Barriers to C&D waste utilization; Recycling and reuse; Policy and regulatory challenges; Questionnaire-based assessment
Cite Article:
"A Systematic Review of Barriers to the Utilization of Construction and Demolition Waste in Sustainable Construction", International Journal for Research Trends and Innovation (www.ijrti.org), ISSN:2456-3315, Vol.11, Issue 2, page no.a595-a600, February-2026, Available :http://www.ijrti.org/papers/IJRTI2602080.pdf
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2456-3315 | IMPACT FACTOR: 8.14 Calculated By Google Scholar| ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 8.14 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator