Characterizing the generation and flows of construction and demolition waste in China. (1st April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Lina; Wu, Huanyu; Zhang, Hui; Duan, Huabo; Wang, Jiayuan; Jiang, Weiping; Dong, Biqin; Liu, Gang; Zuo, Jian; Song, Qingbin
• Is Part Of: Construction & building materials. Volume 136(2017)
• Page Start: 405
• Page End: 413
• Publication Date: 2017-04-01
• Subjects: C&D waste -- Waste characterization -- Economic values -- Land space -- China; Building materials -- Periodicals; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.01.055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0618

Abstract

Highlights: An novel method to quantify C&D waste in China was developed. 2.36 billion tonnes of C&D waste were generated in China annually 2003–2013. Potential recycling value of C&D waste is up to 401 billion USD in 2013. With the current dumping rate, C&D waste could occupy an area of 7.5 billion m 3 . Abstract: Associated with the continuing increase of construction activities such as infrastructure projects, commercial buildings, and housing programs, China has been experiencing a rapid increase of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Till now, the generation and flows of China's C&D waste has not been well understood. This paper aims to provide an explicit analysis of this based on a weight-per-construction-area method. Our results show that approximately 2.36 billion tonnes of C&D waste were generated in China annually during the period of 2003–2013, of which demolition waste and construction waste contributed to 97% and 3%, respectively, in 2013. East China contributed over half of the total C&D waste in China due to their rapid economic development and expansion of cities, followed by Middle China (21%) and South China (11%). Potential economic values from the recycling of C&D waste were found to vary from 201 billion (the worst scenario, i.e., the current practice of C&D waste management) to 401 billion US dollars in 2013 (the most optimistic scenario, i.e., C&D waste is assumed to be well recycled); and the landfill space demands were estimated to range from 7504 million m 3 (the worst scenario) to 706 million m 3 (the most optimistic scenario) accordingly. Consequently, increasing the recycling rate and reducing landfill rate of C&D waste could not only improve the potential recycling economic values, but also dramatically reduce land use and potential environmental impacts.