10 Dec Reducing plasterboard waste in UK construction industry
Plasterboard Performance in the UK with Factors Leading To High Wastage in Commercial Buildings
Abstract
The study aims to provide detailed information about plasterboard performance in UK construction industry. The impact of heavy usage of plasterboartd in construction projects are addressed in this study and the potential impact of plasterboard related waste matrials on environment are also highlight. The research includes information from construction professionals who have the work experinces in constyruiction companies in UK that hanldes plasterboard waste management. The literature part of the study provides current usage of plasterbopard in UK construction industry and the legisltions developed by UK government to control the waste management in contruction industry. The results of the data collected from construction professional shows how the construction materials like plasterboard can be used susutainabley to reduce negative impacts.
Table of Contents
Stataement of Original Authorship. 7
2.2 Construction waste recycling. 13
2.3 Legislations related to construction waste recycling. 14
2.4 The waste management in the built environment in the UK.. 16
2.5 Determination of the scale of waste produced from the UK construction Industry. 19
2.6 Impact of plasterboard waste within a bigger scale of waste. 20
2.7 Guidelines and regulations for waste reduction. 24
2.8 Improving productivity. 27
3.2 Criteria for stakeholder selection. 29
3.4 Engagement with the participant before data collection. 30
3.5 Data collection technique. 30
3.6 Interview structure/ questionnaire structure. 30
4.1 Responses to interview questions. 31
4.2 Thematic data analysis. 34
Appendix 1: Participation Information Sheet 46
Fill The Form – Get Assignment Help
Figure 1: Key responsibilities of the project manager 12
Figure 2: Responsibilities of project team members. 12
Figure 3: Ratio of construction waste sources. 13
Figure 4: Waste procurement and management 14
Figure 5: Waste management strategies. 16
Figure 6: Percentage of plasterboard/gypsum usage in UK.. 21
Abbreviations
C & D- Construction and demolition
WRAP- Waste and Resources Action Programme
SWMP- Site Wsate Management Plans
PAYT- Pay as you throw
Statement of Original Authorship
The research study has not conducted before and not presented in any other institute. The rserach includes the context that is not used before in any other previous study. As per my opinion, the data used in the study and other findings are not used in previous studies.
Signature: __________________
Date: ____________________
Acknowledgements
I would like to appreciate to the university and my lecturer for providing me such opportunity to learn the realm of reasech. My appreciation also goes to all of them who helped me in this research and to complete my research objectives. I am thankful to all of them who provided me information, knowledge or helped me with gathering information related to the research area. The contribution of those helped me to provide such an outcome and encouraged me to complete my study successfully. I would also like to appreciate my lecturers who supported me duieng my work.
1. Introduction
1.1 Rationale
Plasterboard usage in commercial buildings and other construction sites are using as an alternative to traditional plaster walls. It is made of gypsum plaster core with the support of paper facing. Currently, it is one of the most used construction materials for wall lining, partition formation, and the process of celling. More than 2.5 million tonnes of plasterboards are made and used in construction work in the UK (Wrap.org.uk, 2020). The present research is based on the current use of plasterboard in construction work, mainly the commercial buildings, and its effect on the environment. The research aims to provide adequate recommendations for the reduction of plasterboard usage and waste related to commercial buildings. In this context, the legislation regarding construction waste recycling is also considered to analyse the measures taken by the UK government to control the plasterboard wastage.
Plasterboard that is broadly used by the construction industry as a drywall material causes harm to the environment. The adequate use of plasterboard and other construction material is important. The proper use of construction material can be controlled with the help of sustainable use, which allows reusing or recycling them. The present research conducts study on plasterboard performance and the ways through which it can be sustainably used in construction industry.
1.2 Title
A Study of Plasterboard Performance in the UK with Factors Leading To High Wastage in Commercial Buildings
1.3 Aim
The main aim of the study is to highlight the usage of plasterboard in the construction projects. The adequate usage of plasterboard as construction material and the negative consequences of waste materails in the envrionemnat are also considered in the resrach. The rseerach aims to provide adequate recommendation regarding the use of plasterboard and other construction material in a sustainable way.
1.5 Objective
The key importance of the study is proper use of construction materails like plasterboard to reduce environmental pollution. Analysis of the plasterboard usage in UK construction industry and its effect on environment is discussed in detail. The proper use of plasterboard requires proper waste management adopted by the construction companies that is also a key part of the study. The specific objectives of this study are:
- Identify teams, definition and legislation to construction waste recycling and the management of waste in the built environment.
- To determine the scale of waste produced from the UK construction industry focusing on quantity/ impact of plasterboard waste within a bigger scale of waste.
- Identify regulations and guidelines currently preside to reduce waste and improve productivity in plasterboard and plasterboard construction.
- Establish what construction professionals believe should be included in recommendations to reduce plasterboard waste in the construction industry.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Team identification
A project team includes many members, and all of them play a different role in fulfilling the entire task of a project. The key members in a project team are- project manager, project team member, business analyst, and project sponsor. The project manager plays a key role in a project and makes sure that the project proceeds accordingly and completes each phase on time (Invensislearning.com, 2020). As a project manager, one is responsible for completing the project within a limited time, resources, and project properties. A project manager has severe responsibilities such as the development of a project plan, leading the project team, team management, management of deliverables as per the planned framework, the formation of the project schedule, selection of appropriate methodology, and allocation of tasks to project team members. The picture below reflects all the core responsibilities of a project manager.
Figure 1: Key responsibilities of the project manager
Source: (Invensislearning.com, 2020)
Project team members are key people of a project who work for various phases to complete the overall aim of a project. The team members can be either external consultants or in-house staff, and they can be appointed for both a part-time and full-time basis. The role of the team members differs because of their working area. The most common responsibilities of project team members are completion of individual deliverables, meet business needs, contributing to overall objectives of a project, provide expertise, and process documentation. The picture below illustrates the core responsibilities of project team members.
Figure 2: Responsibilities of project team members
Source: (Invensislearning.com, 2020)
A business analyst plays a crucial role in a project, and the person responsible for such a position is a part of the project team. A business analyst identifies the original need of an organisation and recommends solutions as per the need. They play an active role in a project team by ensuring the project objectives can solve the problem area (Invensislearning.com, 2020). The core responsibilities of a business analyst are documentation of business and technical requirements, collection of requirements related to business units, test the solutions for objective validation, and project definition to other team members. Project sponsors are the persons who have very close relationships with the project manager. They participate at a higher level of project planning. Along with that, they eliminate the obstacles and resolve conflicts from the project. The key duties of project sponsors provide approval on the project budget, the formation of key business decisions related to the project, communicate about the project goals, and make resources available for the project.
2.2 Construction waste recycling
Figure 3: Ratio of construction waste sources
Source: ScienceDirect.com
Construction waste recycling is known as the separation and recycling of waste materials that are gathered after the construction is completed. The waste materials are generated during remodeling and construction. The waste materials are constituted as recoverable materials and use for appliances, windows, doors, masonry materials, and renovation in a recyclable manner (Sustainablesources.com, 2020). Construction waste recycling is a considerable area for construction management and for commercial buildings. The construction wastes are thrown into landfills and cause water and soil pollution. Most of the waste contains chemicals, so they are not naturally biodegradable into nature and cause harm to the environment (Kucukvar, Egilmez, and Tatari, 2016). There are some waste materials that can be used as a recycled product directly, and some of them need to be constituted again to make them usable.
Figure 4: Waste procurement and management
Source: rdmc.nottingham.ac.uk
2.3 Legislations related to construction waste recycling
Construction waste recycling cannot be successful without the help of government support. If the government of a nation forms certain legislations to secure the environment and to expand the idea of recycling, then it will be easier to reduce the waste. The government of the UK has taken combined instruments to control construction waste. The combination includes economic instruments, regulations, and voluntary agreements to fulfill environmental, ethical, and social needs. A strategy named sustainable construction was published in 2008 by the UK government (Osmani, 2012). The strategy was formed as a change in the operation, design, and procurement of construction. The main aim of the strategy is to bring sustainable factor in the entire process of construction. Along with that, the strategy aims to enhance the built environment performance to reduce resource consumption for buildings and a reduction in carbon emission. Apart from the sustainable construction strategy, the UK government launched another program related to construction waste recycling, and the name of this program is zero construction waste. Based on this program, the government encourages the construction industry to run its own resource efficiency program through which will lead to fewer waste materials thrown in the landfills. The Environment agency of UK is the governing body for the regulation of waste related to construction in the UK. Apart from the Environment agency there are a few other legislations that control the management of construction waste. They are Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act of 2005, Controlled Waste regulations 1998, Landfill Tax regulations 1996, producer Responsibility obligations Act 2005, Environment Protection Act of 1990 and Anti social behaviour Act 2003.
Additionally, the UK government has implemented some legislation such as landfill tax and site waste management plan regulation 2008. Both the legislations are implied to control the construction waste and to stop it from throwing it in the landfills (Osmani, 2012). However, these legislations and programs are not totally successful in eliminating the construction waste problem, and the UK government has introduced other financial measure to control the construction waste. Along with that, the government of the UK implied other regulations like waste management licensing 1994 and duty of care regulations 1991 to provide licensing controls to extend disposal, recovery, and waste handling options. Many of the previous legislations are converted to other names with the addition of objectives. Requirements for landfill directive areconverted into landfill regulation 2002, and environmental permitting regulation converted as IPPC directive (Adjei, Ndekugri and nkrah, 2013).
2.4 The waste management in the built environment in the UK
There is an immediate need for proper construction waste management to minimise the construction waste storage in landfills and its effect on the environment. Construction and demolition activities are shown as an increased figure from 2010 to 2013. The amount of C&D activities within 2010-13 had increased by 33% to 44%. The amount of C&D activities are not led by the increasing construction work but due to other sectors that contribute to waste into landfills (Core.ac. uk, 2020). There are severe strategies to control the construction waste and leads the construction industry to follow a more sustainable way to continue the construction work. The figure below shows a framework for waste management strategies.
Figure 5: Waste management strategies
Source: (Core.ac.uk, 2020)
Among all of these waste management strategies, most of the strategies are applied in the field of construction waste management. Waste recycling is a common idea that is implemented by many industries like the construction industry. The measures of waste recycling work differently based on the products used by a specific industry. The strategy aims to minimise the action taken by industries as waste landfilling, which is contributing to environmental harm (Core.ac.uk, 2020). The site sorting option is widely applied by the government across the UK. The site sorting option allows the construction entities to easily operate recycling and accurately separates the non-inert and inert materials. The use of recycling as a waste management strategy helps the construction entities to reprocess the waste materials into derivative materials. Along with recycling, reuse of materials is another approach that is considered underwater management. It also works as a great measure to stop throwing the construction waste into landfills. Material reuse is a great approach for the construction industry as it helps to divert its own waste for domestic use. The demolition materials from construction sites are widely used in road surfacing, concrete aggregates, and land reclamation. Coal fly ash is considered a valuable material for the construction industry and can be used as a replacement of rendering materials and cement in the concrete mix.
There are other approaches that are taken by the UK government as a part of waste management. WRAP and SWMP are the key examples of such an approach. SWMP is a legislative framework related to construction activities. It is followed by severe nations, and in the UK, every project, which budget is over £300,000, needs to construct SWMP before starting the activities. The guidelines are followed for every alteration, maintenance, demolition, and civil engineering project that cost over the amount (Core.ac.uk, 2020). On the other hand, WRAP helps to collect basic project details such as the material type used in building and building volume. Based on the basic details, it became easy for the construction entities to design the implementation of the waste tool as per WRAP guidelines.
On the other hand, the UK governments headed towards diverting from the landfill have applied a number of tax and legislative measures. PAYT (Pay as You Throw) is a measure that is a principle of polluter that abstracted by governments and have considerable waste amount from landfill around a number of nations. PAYT is pricing that is based on the unit by which changes will be paid per unit weight or volume of disposed waste on landfill site, with eventual intend of upsetting landfilling waste and promoting the reduction of waste, recycling, and reusing as well. Prior to the approval of variable landfill tax, which is termed as PAYT, other penalties of landfill have been applied without success. For example, in the United States, a fixed billing not fluctuate with waste quantity has been used; yet, it did not represent considerable minimisation in waste relative to the scheme of PAYT. However, evidence from other nations such as Canada, Greece, Netherland, Sweden, UK, and Switzerland represent that the scheme of PAYT considerably minimises trouble on sites of landfill.
Moreover, in the last few decades, significance and awareness development has been growing globally. The construction industry contributes to sustainable development by the implementation of innovative construction methods for increased future productivity. In the UK, the construction industry remains an integral part of the development of sustainable principles. As a result, the construction industry creates an impact on the natural environment and society. This industry is the largest contributor to the greenhouse gases that cause ecological factors and climatic changes. This is one of the most severe global threats of recent times.
Globally, sustainable construction is gaining awareness and also in the UK. In the country, more sustainable buildings are being constructed in the government sector. Government environmental policies are merged with the corporate social responsibility that helps in the creation of an integrated set of rules and guidelines that are integral to the reduction of construction waste in the UK. The development of various sustainable techniques like the Codes for Sustainable Homes and Building research Establishment Environmental assessment method has encouraged sustainability in the UK construction industry. The Climate change act of 2008 is an integral part of legal obligations like environmental pollution due to carbon emissions. The government of the UK has made a formal attempt to reduce pollution by implementing this act.
2.5 Determination of the scale of waste produced from the UK construction Industry
As per the second edition report of DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) with the Digest of Waste and Resources Statistics in 2015 that, when efforts have been made to minimise the contribution through the industry towards waste issues, a very few have been achieved. Hence, construction activities can produce huge amounts of waste materials that are then required to be disposed of. Additionally, at the end of life building, it might be demolished or deconstructed, producing considerable amounts of waste. Increasingly, there are more alternatives available in terms of recycling and re-using materials and minimising the waste amount generated in the first place, yet apart from this, a huge amount of construction waste is still disposed of in a landfill. More than 31.9% of landfill waste emerges from the building demolition and construction, and 12.9% of products shipped to sites where the construction occurs and are directly sent to the landfill without having being used. Considering the landfill disposal of, in 1996 Finance Act was commenced a waste disposal tax on all sites of landfill registered in the UK (Sharman and Jones, 2020).
Hence, other numbers that have also been published drawn an awful portrait; yet, before three years, fresh details and enhanced data of baseline have represented the things that are not as bad as people initially thought. In February 2018, DEFRA reported the publication of UK Statics on Waste that in the year 2014, the UK produced waste of 202.8 million tonnes. Thus, more than 58.9% of that numbers are from construction, demolition, and excavation (CDE); hence they are majorly responsible. On the other hand, the rate of recovery for non-hazardous demotion and construction rate in the year 2014 was more than 88.9%, placing them beyond the 90% target of EU within 2020. Therefore, when the building industry is constantly in the midst of the leading providers of plasterboard waste, the company has come an extended way with re-use and re-cycle habits. CDE in the year 2010 was responsible for the UK’s hazardous waste of 4.9 million tonnes. The number had gone down to approximately 4.3 million tonnes in 2014.
Concerning the consumption of materials, BREEAM Mat 6 articulates that the construction industry reports for more than 54.9%, with buildings considering the process, contributed 50% of overall carbon dioxide comparable releases. Hence, it is imperative to point out that almost 54.9% of worldwide industrial carbon emissions appear from the production and dispensation of five main materials: 25% of steel, 19% of cement, 4% of paper, aluminum, and plastic 3%. Within the given materials, the UK construction industry is a main consumer of cement and is mostly answerable for consuming around 25.9% of aluminum, 50% steel, and 25% plastic (Construction waste, 2020). This is tough to quantify the usage of paper for this industry, as it is not particular to the process of construction other than one of its through products.
However, the problems increasing from the materials overproduction and growth of waste in construction sites are numerous-fold; yet, one evident problem with transferring waste to landfill is that the country is running out of the spaces to dispose of it.
2.6 Impact of plasterboard waste within a bigger scale of waste
The construction industry is very significant in every developing nation. The construction industry is a financial investment, and its association with economic development is well posited. The nations that are well developed and developing nations have understood and comprehended the significance of the construction industry in the level of socio-economic and the country’s sustainable development. Hence, it plays an important role in the growth of the nation by generating necessary physical structures and infrastructures for activities such as services, commerce, and utilities. The construction sector’s development is a part of the living environment that is generally affecting the conditions of living, health, and social well-being. The industry also provokes opportunities for employment and injects capital into the economy of the nation. Hence, rather than these contributions, swift progress of the construction industry has led to the rising of construction wastes and this circumstance had turned out to be one of the major issues across the world (Fikri Hasmori et al., 2020).
Figure 6: Percentage of plasterboard/gypsum usage in UK
Sources- (Fikri Hasmori et al., 2020)
Plasterboard waste is becoming a crucial problem in several large cities around the globe. The construction industry in the UK produces a lot of waste that has a considerate impact on the environment that is the claim for landfill and lessening of natural resources (Greenspec.co.uk, 2020). Annually, site management and poor design lead to around 12.9% of solid material transferred to the sites of construction, wherein more than 9.9% million tonnes are going unused. Generally, it makes the construction industry the leading producer of unnatural waste going to the landfill. On construction sites, waste production is often down to insufficient storage space and security, multiple or poor managing, control of the poor site, materials over-ordering, control of bad stock, lack of training, and materials damage during the delivery. Increased pressure on sites of the landfill, accompanied by increasing prices, strict taxation and controls, and increasing understanding of the environmental issues contiguous waste disposal has created the construction waste reduction as an absolute compulsory. As per the research, it has been found that approximately more than 29.9% of construction reworks and not more than 10% of materials are wasted. Still, some of the researchers believe that there is loads of scope for enhancing effectiveness and value merely by taking out of construction. The number of waste management produces to carry on to be the key problem for the industry and in several nations.
However, what is construction industry’s evident in the UK has the aim to contribute to waste minimisation or reduction by applying innovative practices and policies that have a more optimistic impact on socio-economic and ecological systems. Developments are required in all phases of the construction process that include the usage of the land, natural resources replacement, networks of transport, processes of construction, in material form energy of building even as in practice, social dealings and financial advantages for the overall supply chain. Hence, it can be said that the construction industry is critical in achieving the agenda of sustainability due to the huge number of consumed materials they are both renewable and non-renewable as the huge amount of waste generated by it and the impact of its goods on the man-made and natural environment (Farida, Handayani and Wibowo, 2019).
Furthermore, it can be said that the UK construction industry has move towards a long way towards its re-use and re-cycling practices, yet with appropriate planning, they can even do better. On this note, the key is the efficiency of materials wherein the building materials or packaging used in a project, the waste in the construction industry is predictable. It is also costly and generally underestimated. The biggest natural resources of the UK are the construction industry, as per the Wrap. According to the recent report of WRAP, this sector uses materials of 400 million tonnes annually (Rmf-services.co.uk, 2020). This will eventually result in 100 million tonnes of waste being generated. In order to put this in the scenario, this level of waste in construction contributes over a third total annually of the UK’s waste amount, and more than 24.9% million tonnes of construction waste is intended for landfill.
However, as mentioned earlier, these figures are added by DEFRA, who gives details in their February 2018 edition of UK Statistics on Waste that in 2014 the UK produced 202.8 million tonnes of waste. On the other hand, Construction, demolition and excavation were responsible for more than 58.9% of the overall amount. The problem increasing from the overproduction of materials and construction waste accumulation waste are numerous-fold; yet, one evident problem with conveyance of waste to landfill is that the disposal spaces are running out to put it. At the same time, there seems to be a flaming cost issue; the more a fritter away a project generates that includes the procuring materials cost that ends up not being practised and worse the impact it has on the margin of profit (Ajayi et al., 2015). A number of organisations address this by considering in waste from the foundation; yet, that is a method of self –beating that is flattering gradually more improper as the world pushes to figure out more eco-friendly and sustainable way to make and generate things.
Moreover, right around the world, the importance of sustainable construction is increasing day by day, and in the UK, this endures to be given by the industry, the government of UK and the regulations of EU for example 2002, Energy Performance of Building Directive. In the current times in the UK, developing more sustainable buildings endures to dominate the agenda of the government, and this is being followed passionately by implementing different strategies. Besides, the private sector has started to integrate sustainability into their goods and services not only as it is the right thing to do but due to the unavoidable governmental rules and laws joined with the agenda of CSR (Rmf-services.co.uk, 2020). There have been a number of industry attempts to promote sustainability in general and construction considering sustainability in particular. These have included the improvement of several techniques of sustainability assessment such as the CSH, BREEAM and the guide for green within others (Udeaja, 2013).
2.7 Guidelines and regulations for waste reduction
There is no particular accepted definition of waste accumulation due to construction. Generally, we can say that any substance or object that needs to be discarded or disposed of is considered waste in the construction industry. It applies to both forms of waste that need to be disposed of and those that need to be recovered. Waste recovered from the construction sites must be shifted elsewhere to avert specific damage to the project.
The UK government has been involved in various methods and processes that require a combination of regulatory and economic instruments based on voluntary agreements to meet the targets of social and environmental practices. The UK government’s sustainable strategy was developed in the year 2008 to change the procurement of sustainable operations in the construction industry (Harris et al., 2020). Although the guideline was created because of maintaining procedures for reducing waste in all formats, lately, plasterboard construction became the new source of waste produced in the UK.
Plasterboard is a paper facing material made up of gypsum plaster core. Partitions, lining walls, and ceilings are the areas where plasterboard is widely used nowadays. The waste materials that arise due to plasterboard usage arise during the installation of designs, cutoffs, and damaged boards. An approximate 30% of wastage occurs from plasterboards in construction sites in the UK, leading to around 30,000 tons of plasterboard waste produced each year. Refurbishing of walls, ceilings, and removal of partitions also produce plasterboard waste materials. The heaviest amount of plasterboard waste is produced when buildings are completely demolished. Plasterboard waste materials can be subjected to recycling, but they are mostly deposited in a landfill. However, landfill disposal is also becoming risky nowadays due to the increase in landfill taxes and space unavailability for landfill disposal. Gypsum produces non-biodegradable gas, so it is of utmost importance to dispose of plasterboard waste materials. On the legal aspect, all waste materials that are segregated for disposal containing gypsum should be separated for recovery or the recycling process (Harding, Brunfaut, and Unger 2020). Although gypsum is not that hazardous, it can cause occasional environmental problems of concern. They should be disposed of in the landfills entitled to non-hazardous waste in the cells where biodegradable waste is also accepted. However, all these materials necessarily do not need landfill method of disposal. Most of the time, the gypsum is extracted from the paper board and is recycled back into other uses like industrial machinery and the production of new plasterboard.
Recycling plasterboard reduces the amount of waste that goes into the landfill, and it also reduces the gypsum amount extraction and produces products that can be again used for industrial use. It is not only important from the environmental perspective but also is an advantageous process. Plasterboard disposal can be segregated into three areas: disposal for individuals, disposal for businesses, and large construction projects. Each segregation has a different set of rules and regulations for disposal. The environment agency enforced separate disposal for waste were more than 10% of sulfate was present in the plasterboards. But recent environmental rules and regulations suggest that even 1% of the sulfate should not go along with the biodegradable waste for disposal.
Therefore, it is essential to separate plasterboard waste from other waste before taking it to the site. Most of the waste management sites that are located nearby now offer separate disposal sites for paper board disposal or recycling purposes.
Small scale businesses in the UK generally produce large amounts of gypsum-based waste materials. They should look out for recyclable options for keeping the city clean from environmental pollution and set a statement in business credentials, improving the competitive advantage in the market (Arif et al., 2017). Recycling of the plasterboard waste is beneficial for the environment and is also beneficial from the company’s economic angle or business. It ensures a reduction in the overall yearly landfilling taxes and the returns. Tax credits can be provided to the companies for sending the paperboard waste in the recycling process. The environment agency can impose heavy fines on the companies and individuals for not adhering to the rules and regulations regarding waste disposal or recycling.
Large construction projects receive stricter government notifications regarding the disposal and recycling of paperboard waste. A proper site waste management plan report should be submitted to the governing environment authority for a clearance certificate. The process of disposal is an important part of the construction project. Supply of disposable as well as recyclable waste should be passed on to an authorised carrier. The separation process of gypsum-based waste and other waste must be placed in large construction projects.
A composite waste management plan regarding the disposal of waste is required for construction projects in the UK. The plan needs proper processing of the materials that need to be reused, recycled, and disposed of (Lea, 2019). The UK government strictly enforces the rules and regulations regarding the segregation of wastes that private and public waste collectors need to follow. Plasterboard contains some amount of gypsum, so it falls under the plastic category. The plastic category falls under nonbiodegradable waste management, and it needs separation from other wastes. The environment agency is enforcing new guidelines. They suggest the elimination of waste before it enters construction sites. The production of waste should be reduced to a minimum account. The Plasterboard Sustainability partnership is a program introduced by the UK government to improve plasterboard sustainability through awareness programs with the help of supply chain management. It was formulated to support zero carbon emission and reduce carbon intensity through various European Union Emission trading systems (Sarhan, 2018). The Waste and resources action program tries to encourage businesses and consumers to be more efficient in using materials and focus more on recycling products like plasterboards. This particular program helps achieve low-cost rates and increased efficiency in the form of better material use.
2.8 Improving productivity
Some companies have made arrangements with British Gypsum to recover their own site waste products in plasterboard material. Plasterboard can account for about 35% of the total construction waste material that can arise after work completion. However, there are a few disadvantages of plasterboard usage in construction, like it is prone to damage from careless handling, storage, and exposure to other materials. One big problem with plasterboard is that the people associated with the installation process have a wasteful approach towards the material. This ultimately causes the production of excess waste materials after the completion of the project. Innovations in the plasterboard construction have taken a new turn in the residential house building section.
There has been a recent focus on constructing the interiors and walls using innovative designs of the plasterboards. Modern builders have created a niche for developing state of the art interiors in the UK. The interior design is an integral part of the construction as it is associated with the art and aesthetical value (Sherratt and Turner, 2018). A new version of the Plasterboard named Gyproc Habito is super-strong plasterboard that assures five times more strength and durability than regular wallboards. It does not require any special fixing tools and equipment for installation. Thistle magnetic plaster is a board that is a new product and can attract the children in playing magnetic fun games on the wall. It can transform any ordinary wall into a special fun interactive session of magnetic games.
A new dimension in interior designing is created by the implementation of Silent walls and silent floor solutions for the consumers that mark the sheer excellence of the innovative plasterboard products. The British architects in acoustic performance design a new perception of the innovative interior. Acoustic insulation is the latest in technology to be added to interior architecture in the UK. It assures of offering superior acoustic experience in internal living spaces. New renovations in the plasterboard offer more durable interior living solutions for the people in the UK. Plasterboards with high durability fle3xibility are the main advantage for the consumers involved in renovating the homes (Gledson, 2017). There is no requirement of backboards that earlier were needed for supporting the plasterboards. The new products offer seamless benefits for the consumers and assure minimum wastage in the construction process.
As we have discussed the benefits of minimum wastage earlier, it is obvious that construction companies will indulge in using these modified versions of plasterboard to make interior design. The building process will be much faster and efficient in using innovation as a tool for change and an increase in plasterboard material productivity (Lawrence et al., 2019). The various regulations and the guidelines that need to be followed are depending on the need for innovative products that will ultimately bring relaxation in waste disposal rules. The more innovation is involved, the more reduction in waste material will occur.
3. Research Design and Methodology
3.1 Research method
The research method that is selected for the current research is a qualitative approach. The qualitative approach will allow the study to conduct a semi-structured interview for construction professionals who works in the top construction companies in the UK. The key criteria of the interview are also limited to those companies, which deal with plasterboard waste management. In the present interview, five construction professionals are selected as an interviewee, and the data collected from their interview will be presented as a recommendation for the study. The interview includes certain criteria to avoid vulnerable participants. However, the interview participants are not excluded based on gender or ethnicity, but the core criteria of the study are maintained. The stakeholder selection criteria of the study are discussed through the point below.
3.2 Criteria for stakeholder selection
The participants who are selected for the interview are construction professional and working in UK based construction companies. All the participants have the experience of a minimum 3 construction-based projects in which they worked. Along with that, any of the projects they worked for dealing with plasterboard waste reduction. Two top companies are selected for the study, namely A. Hatcher &Sons Ltd. and Balfour Beatty. Both the construction companies are selected because these companies are involved in construction projects that include plasterboard waste management. Many projects of these companies were aimed to reduce construction waste and to reuse the waste materials again. The five participants are selected from these two companies. Two participants are selected from Balfour Beatty, and three are selected from A. Hatcher &Sons Ltd.
3.3 Ethical consideration
Ethics are the key to fruitful and transparent research, so the present research follows all the ethical criteria during the participant selection, interview and data usage, and privacy of the participants. Ethics of research also include the consent of the participants, disclosure of research aim to the participants, and objective of the interview (Rowland, 2019). The opinion of the participants, autonomy, and confidentiality is maintained throughout the interview.
3.4 Engagement with the participant before data collection
Before collecting the data from the participants and proceeding to the interview process, it is important to take the permission of the participants, and the aim of the study should be cleared to them. In the present research, the participants are contacted through a message via LinkedIn, and the consent is sent via mail. After their acceptance of the request mail, they are requested to join the interview after one day via Microsoft Teams.
3.5 Data collection technique
Online data collection is the best and cheapest way to collect the data from the participants who stay far away. Online interviews also allow a researcher to complete the data collection within less time. There are various ways through which one can conduct an online interview. The present research takes the help of Microsoft Teams, which allows an individual to conduct in-person interviews online (Microsoft 365 for Journalists, 2020). The best part of the Microsoft team is there is no browsing cost, and one can easily join the interview without downloading any extra app. Microsoft team provides many options like record the interview and interview transcript, which helps as a data backup.
3.6 Interview structure/ questionnaire structure
The interview is based on pre-determined questions that are shown in the appendix. There are 10 key questions that aim to collect relevant data from the participants. The questions are set in such a way, which helps the study to collect recommendations on plasterboard waste management in construction sites. Along with that, the questions also carry the aim to collect data regarding the work carried out in the companies that are selected in the interview context. The waste management implemented in the companies reflects how the plasterboard waste management is carried out by the construction companies of UK and measures taken by the construction companies to reduce plasterboard waste and sustainable usage of construction materials. Apart from the 10 questions, there are two questions that are asked to the participants regarding their experience and projects they are involved in.
4. Data analysis
4.1 Responses to interview questions
The responses of the interview are presented in the table according to the answers to the interview questions and the key factors for each of the responses.
| Question | R | Response | Key factors |
| Q 1 | R 1 | Chartered Institute of Building | N/A |
| R 2 | Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | N/A | |
| R 3 | Chartered Institute of Building | N/A | |
| R 4 | Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | N/A | |
| R 5 | Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | N/A | |
| Q 2 | R 1 | Internet and peers | N/A |
| R 2 | Industry news sources, magazines and professional body meetings | N/A | |
| R 3 | Construction industry magazines and journals | N/A | |
| R 4 | Business news channels my colleagues, superiors and subordinates | N/A | |
| R 5 | Internet | N/A | |
| Q 3 | R 1 | Reduction at the source, diverting the demolition debris and reusing it | Reuse material |
| R 2 | Outsource the waste management | SWMP | |
| R 3 | Try to recover any construction and material that is used but valuable | Reuse material | |
| R 4 | Increase the awareness about the environmental impact of the waste | N/A | |
| R 5 | Netwaste for reducing and better managing the waste | Waste Prediction Tools | |
| Q 4 | R 1 | Did not take any steps to promote the reuse of any material | Reuse material |
| R 2 | Segregating the waste into degradable and non-biodegradable can be helpful | Sorting and recycling | |
| R 3 | Construction project managers are focused on only completing the project on time | N/A | |
| R 4 | No awareness regarding waste management among the project managers | SWMP | |
| R 5 | Were not using any tool for waste management | Waste Prediction Tools | |
| Q 5 | R 1 | Yes, by ensuring sustainable management of the waste | Agree |
| R 2 | Yes, by consulting with our clients | Agree | |
| R 3 | Yes, collaborate with waste management companies | Agree | |
| R 4 | Yes, following the legislation and guidelines cutting down on the total waste | Agree | |
| R 5 | Yes, regularly informing our clients of the waste produced and taking suggestions | Agree | |
| Q 6 | R 1 | Avoiding over-allocation of the resources and material | Waste Efficient Procurement |
| R 2 | Raw materials stocked in the right proportion | Waste Efficient Procurement | |
| R 3 | Reuse any waste material that can be reused | Reuse material | |
| R 4 | Outsourcing waste management | SWMP | |
| R 5 | Proper planning when ordering the material for construction, reusing and recycling | Waste Efficient Procurement | |
| Q 7 | R 1 | They do not actively participate in waste management | Disagree |
| R 2 | Clients help in improving the waste management efficiency | Agree | |
| R 3 | It is our responsibility to keep the clients updated | Agree | |
| R 4 | Having a good relationship with the client does not play a very important role in waste outsourcing | Disagree | |
| R 5 | It can help in for the improving our practices | Agree | |
| Q 8 | R 1 | A small but effective step to improve the productivity | Agree |
| R 2 | By promoting the reuse and recycling of the materials | Reuse material | |
| R 3 | Following the guidelines for waste management and the suggestions provided | Reuse material | |
| R 4 | Construction waste can be utilised within the project itself | Reuse material | |
| R 5 | Right management of the waste can improve the project productivity | Agree | |
| Q 9 | R 1 | Make use of the WRAP or waste and resources action program | Better planning |
| R 2 | Use both SWMP and WRAP program | Waste Efficient Procurement | |
| R 3 | SWMP or site waste management planning | Waste Efficient Procurement | |
| R 4 | Do not make use of any framework | Waste Prediction Tools | |
| R 5 | WRAP framework helps to significantly reduce the total waste | Better planning | |
| Q 10 | R 1 | Waste prediction tools are crucial to reduce all types of waste | Agree |
| R 2 | Do not have much knowledge | Disagree | |
| R 3 | Use the tools like Intelex, Trashflow and netwaste for this purpose. | Agree | |
| R 4 | Not using any such tools but plan to use them in future | Agree | |
| R 5 | Using netwaste for waste management that provides the basic based information and the underlying details | Agree | |
| Q11 | R 1 | Helps in reducing the waste that goes to the dumping grounds | Agree |
| R 2 | There is less waste polluting our environment | Agree | |
| R 3 | It can help in maintaining sustainability | Agree | |
| R 4 | Helps in conserving the natural resources | Agree | |
| R 5 | Helps in preventing pollution | Agree | |
| Q 12 | R 1 | It can cut down on the overall cost of the project | Agree |
| R 2 | Yes | Agree | |
| R 3 | Brings down the cost of constructing. | Agree | |
| R 4 | Not only reduces the waste but also helps in maintaining sustainability | Agree | |
| R 5 | Reusing is definitely a profitable | Agree | |
| Q 13 | R 1 | It reduces the need of additionally purchasing the items that can be easily reused or recycled | Agree |
| R 2 | Cuts down the need for purchasing new material contributing to cost efficiencies | Agree | |
| R 3 | Can help in tapping the internal sources for the required materials bringing economic benefits for the project | Agree | |
| R 4 | It cuts down on the need to purchase new material | Agree | |
| R 5 | Helps in conserving the natural resources | Agree | |
| Q 14 | R 1 | Promoting the use of prefabricated material and recyclable and reusable products | Reuse
Recycle waste |
| R 2 | Should promote the use of waste prediction tools | Waste Prediction Tools | |
| R 3 | Implementing the existing laws more strictly and developing new laws for waste management | New laws and regulations | |
| R 4 | Making it mandatory for the construction project managers to outsource the waste management | Outsourcing waste management | |
| R 5 | A detailed plan for the disposal of waste that can be toxic and hazardous | Better planning
SWMP |
|
| Q 15 | R 1 | Reuse plasterboard waste | Reuse
Recycle waste |
| R 2 | Reuse and recycle as much as possible | Reuse
Recycle waste |
|
| R 3 | Incorporate the tools that help in waste prediction | Waste Prediction Tools | |
| R 4 | Reuse or recycle the waste whenever possible or make use of the appropriate processes for disposing it | Reuse
Recycle waste |
|
| R 5 | Take help from the waste management agencies | Outsourcing waste management |
Table 4.2: Overview Table of Interview Responses
4.2 Thematic data analysis
At present, the supply of re-cycled plasterboard in the UK is estimated to be 0.07Mtpa. Recent capacity for re-cycling is estimated to be 0.175Mtpa. Currently, the industry reports that it aims to grow the capacity to a total in the area of 0.4Mtpa. The growth of a quality assertion regime that includes testing, standards, etc. might help to find out quality assertion concerns articulated by the plasterboard industry and support to enhance re-cycling the rates (Jiménez-Rivero and García-Navarro, 2017). Hence, major plasterboard manufactures, demolition and re-cycling firms took part in five main projects to discover decontamination, reprocessing, sorting and re-cycle of re-cycled gypsum powder in the process of production. However, in order to reduce plasterboard waste, it is important to focus on the strategies for plasterboard waste management and some of the key factors have been discussed below accordingly. Based on the data collected through interviewing the construction professionals and the extensive literature review on this subject, several outcomes are gathered. The insights reflected by the professionals and the recommendations given by them are helpful to conduct adequate analysis and construct adequate recommendations for the construction industry of the UK to reduce plasterboard waste. The table below provides the key factors and themes that were the analysed and are an outcome of all the data collected for this research.
| Key factors | Themes |
| Site Waste Management Planning (SWMP) | · Managing waste at site
· Better planning · Improved project sustainability |
| Usage of Waste Prediction Tools | · Waste prediction for better planning
· Advance waste management plan |
| Sorting and recycling | · Recycling the waste
· Reducing need to order more |
| Reuse of materials | · Reusing the waste for some other purpose
· Cost efficiency |
| Offsite construction | · Construction of certain parts offsite
· Better management · Less waste on site |
| Waste Efficient Procurement | · Better procurement to cut down waste
· Improved project sustainability |
Table 4.2: Key factor analysis of interview
Site Waste Management Planning
Analysis and discussion: This plan is a record that articulates the in-depth, the amount and the plasterboard wastage type from a construction project and how it will be re-cycled, re-use or disposed of. The plan must be prepared by the client before the process of construction begins, though they might commission a member of the consultation team in order to do this on their behalf. It must describe how plasterboards will be managed effectively and disposed of legally throughout the works in the construction sites, articulating how the recycling and re-using of plasterboards will be minimised (Silvestre, Gaião and De Brito, 2011). This generally involves forecasting how much of each type of waste is probable to be generated and the ratio of this that will be re-cycled on-site, eliminate from the site for disposal, or re-cycle (Nibusinessinfo.co.uk, 2020). Thus, it is the shared responsibility of the main contractor and the client to make sure that a site plasterboard management plan is in place before the construction gets started and assures that it is imposed.
Key Factor 1 (KF1) – SWMP
Recommendations:
- Promote SWMP
- Find out the total amount and type of waste that is going to be produced on the construction site.
- Create a plan for reusing, recycling and disposing the waste in advance.
Usage of Waste Prediction Tools
Analysis and discussion: In order to reduce plasterboard waste, it is important to manage waste in different means of estimating and predicting possibly project waste that has emerged in the industry. Hence, it includes the use of different tools, most often at the stage of design, to estimate potential waste increasing from the process of construction. Therefore, in order to reduce plasterboard waste, the construction teams can use the tools like NetWaste as this will help to predict waste (European Commission, 2020). This will eventually support the designers in assessing cost and qualities of waste from the construction project, and will eventually help in choosing an appropriate strategy for developing waste effectiveness of the construction project. NetWaste generally assembles basic information of the project like the volume of the building and types of materials in order to function its evaluative operation of plasterboard waste. For Civil engines and builders, the designs out waste tools are some other tools manufactured by the similar cause, recognising the potentials for designing out the waste, listing the solution of design for waste mitigation, evaluating the impacts of such solution, and relating impacts of diverse design options for the projects of Building and Civil Engineering.
Key Factor 2 (KF2) – Usage of Waste Prediction Tools
Recommendations:
- Use of waste prediction tools at the stage of design.
- Use of tools like NetWaste to evaluate the production of total waste.
Sorting and recycling
Analysis and discussion: The waste landfill has been discouraged as a strategy for waste management as is associated with space constraint. Several strategies are being diverted from land filling options. The first strategy for the management of plasterboard waste is recommended as sorting and recycling. Along with the other industries, the construction industry has adopted plasterboard recycling as a convenient method to minimize environmental pollution (Divald, 2019).In a bid to prevent land filling by waste disposal; this particular strategy has been recognized as the next line of action. Land filling is considered one of the oldest and harmful forms of waste treatment. The option of sorting and segregation is widely practiced in the UK as it eases recycling operations and assures perfect separation of inert and non-inert materials. This strategy proves beneficial due to its tendency to divert waste from sites of landfill. Waste materials are processed to produce derivative materials that replace the need for the use of virgin materials for production. It saves environmental pollution owing to the practices of excavation, transportation, and processing.
An effective recycling operation involves the saving of additional annual carbon emission rates. Gains in the economic sector and the employment sector are assured with the inception of this process. The main criteria for requirement include a substantially large area, an easily accessible site, and experienced recycling specialists (Harris et al., 2020). Recycling pieces of equipment should also be needed for the site, like screeners, crushers, and wind sifting machines. Professionals of the construction industry must sort the waste materials as a part of their recycling operations.
Key Factor 3 (KF3) – Sorting and recycling
Recommendations:
- Recycling of waste materials can help with sustainable project management
- Recycling reduces the need to purchase more material cutting down cost.
Reuse of materials
Analysis and discussion: The reuse of materials is an integral approach that helps in the diversion of waste from landfill sites. Little or no alteration is required in its physical state in reusing materials, unlike recycling. The chemical constituents of the materials are also not changed when we reuse materials. The construction materials like plasterboard are reused in interior decoration parts in the home or outside the buildings. They are used to create various art designs by the construction workers (Gruneberg, 2018). Repairing and maintenance work requires plasterboards as a reused material. Along with the reuse, the waste efficient procurement method is also essential for the effective management of waste. Construction waste such as plasterboards is associated with procurement. Different strategies have been implemented for ensuring effective waste procurement methods in the construction industry. The examples of procurement can be in time delivery, reduction in the packaging process, and enhanced collaboration among the logistics and supply chain division.
Key Factor 4 (KF4) – Reuse of materials
Recommendations:
- Reusing the materil can be beneficial for the environment
- It contributes to efficiency, profitability and cost efficiency of the project
Offsite construction
Analysis and discussion: It is also an efficient method of waste reduction. In plasterboards, the interior designing architecture can be manufactured and assembled away from the original construction site to reduce wastage and disorder (Gray, 2017). It also ensures good work management of the work as the construction structures are being produced in areas with larger spaces, preferably in open areas for improved and detailed work. However, lately, the plasterboards are assembled o the construction site for a perfect customer demonstration and feature.
Key Factor 5 (KF5) – Offsite construction
Recommendations:
- Some architecture can be manufactured and assembled away from the original construction site to reduce waste
- This improves work management and reduces the need for waste management at the site
Waste Efficient Procurement
Analysis and discussion: Procurement phase is a very important phase for the planning of waste management in the project of construction. Many construction waste causes such as materials packaging, double handling, and inappropriate storage of materials are all related with the phase of procurement. Considering this, different strategies should be practiced to ensure that the waste effective procurement in the construction industry of the UK.
Key Factor 6 (KF6) – Waste Efficient Procurement
Recommendations:
- Procurement should be well planned to avoid excess ordering
- Excess material can be stored for return or reuse in other projects
5. Conclusion
The research highlights the key importance of managing plasterboard waste and other construction materials for the construction industry. The construction professional who is involved in the study reveals important facts about the construction industry and the significance of waste management in construction projects. Based on the interview of the construction professionals, the recommendations of the study are provided. The recommendation highlights key facts of waste management and plasterboard waste control that should be followed by the construction industry of the UK.
References
Ajayi, S.O., Oyedele, L.O., Bilal, M., Akinade, O.O., Alaka, H.A., Owolabi, H.A. and Kadiri, K.O. (2015). Waste effectiveness of the construction industry: Understanding the impediments and requisites for improvements. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 102, pp.101–112.
Adjei, S., Ndekugri, I. and nkrah, N., 2013. (PDF) Review of construction and demolition waste management legislation in the UK. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289526869_REVIEW_OF_CONSTRUCTION_AND_DEMOLITION_WASTE_MANAGEMENT_LEGISLATION_IN_THE_UK> [Accessed 21 November 2020].
Arif, M., Killian, P., Goulding, J., Wood, G., and Kaushik, A., 2017. Barriers and challenges for offsite construction in the UK housing sector.
Construction waste, 2020. Construction Waste. [online] Designingbuildings.co.uk. Available at: <https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Construction_waste> [Accessed 27 November 2020].
Core.ac.uk, 2020. Waste Effectiveness Of The Construction Industry: Understanding The 2 Impediments And Requisites For Improvements. [online] Core.ac.uk. Available at: <https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/46663905.pdf> [Accessed 21 November 2020].
David, S., 2019. The Trojan Horse Controversy: Mapping the construction of justice in UK media. ETHOS, WP, 4.
European Commission, 2020. Putting Plasterboard Waste To Good Use. [online] Environment for Europeans. Available at: <https://ec.europa.eu/environment/efe/news/putting-plasterboard-waste-good-use-2016-10-28_en> [Accessed 27 November 2020].
Farida, N., Handayani, N.U. and Wibowo, M.A. (2019). Developing Indicators of Green Construction of Green Supply Chain Management in Construction Industry: a Literature Review. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 598, p.012021.
Fikri Hasmori, M., Faizul Md Zin, A., Nagapan, S., Deraman, R., Abas, N., Yunus, R. and Klufallah, M. (2020). The on-site waste minimization practices for construction waste. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 713, p.012038.
Gledson, B., 2017. Innovation Diffusion within the UK Construction Sector: a study of the adoption of 4D BIM (Doctoral dissertation, Northumbria University).
Gray, D., 2017. Cycles in the UK housing economy: price and relationship with lenders, buyers, consumption, and construction. Springer.
Greenspec.co.uk, 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/plasterboard-drylining-partition/> [Accessed 27 November 2020].
Gruneberg, S., 2018. A Strategic Approach to the UK Construction Industry. Routledge.
Harding, L., Brunfaut, T., and Unger, J.W., 2020. Language testing in the ‘hostile environment’: The discursive construction of ‘secure English language testing in the UK. Applied Linguistics, 41(5), pp.662-687.
Harris, F., McCaffery, R., Baldwin, A., and Edom-Fotwe, F., 2020. Modern construction management. John Wiley & Sons.
Invensislearning.com, 2020. What Is A Project Team And Who All Are Involved? | Invensis Learning. [online] Invensislearning.com. Available at: <https://www.invensislearning.com/articles/pmp/what-is-a-project-team-and-who-all-are-involved> [Accessed 21 November 2020].
Janusonyte, G., Lawani, K., Hare, B., and Lawrence, M., 2019, June. Evaluating the impact of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for UK construction workers. The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) World Building Congress. Constructing Smart Cities.
Jiménez-Rivero, A. and García-Navarro, J. (2017). Characterization of quality recycled gypsum and plasterboard with maximized recycled content. Materiales de Construcción, 67(328), p.137.
Kucukvar, M., Egilmez, G. and Tatari, O., 2016. Life cycle assessment and optimization-based decision analysis of construction waste recycling for a LEED-certified university building. Sustainability, 8(1), p.89.
Lea, R., 2019. UK GDP slips in 2019Q2: a correction, not recession. Arbuthnot Banking Group, 19.
Microsoft 365 for Journalists, 2020. Conduct And Transcribe Interviews With Microsoft Teams – Microsoft 365 For Journalists. [online] Microsoft 365 for Journalists. Available at: <https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft365forjournalists/learning-tools/conducting-interviews-in-microsoft-teams/#:~:text=With%20Microsoft%20Teams%2C%20you%20have,accounts%20to%20join%20the%20call.> [Accessed 27 November 2020].
Nibusinessinfo.co.uk, 2020. What Is A Site Waste Management Plan? | Nibusinessinfo.Co.Uk. [online] Nibusinessinfo.co.uk. Available at: <https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/what-site-waste-management-plan> [Accessed 27 November 2020].
Osmani, M., 2012. Construction waste minimization in the UK: current pressures for change and approaches. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 40, pp.37-40.
Rmf-services.co.uk, 2020. Construction Waste Facts. [online] Rmf-services.co.uk. Available at: <https://www.rmf-services.co.uk/recycled_raised_flooring/construction_waste_facts.aspx> [Accessed 27 November 2020].
Rowland, A.A., Dounas-Frazer, D.R., Ríos, L., Lewandowski, H.J. and Corwin, L.A., 2019. Using the life grid interview technique in STEM education research. International Journal of STEM Education, 6(1), p.32.
Sarhan, S., 2018. Institutional waste within the UK construction industry: An exploratory study (Doctoral dissertation, Nottingham Trent University).
Sharman, J. and Jones, L., 2020. Construction Waste And Materials Efficiency. [online] NBS. Available at: <https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/construction-waste-and-materials-efficiency#:~:text=The%20statistics&text=DEFRA%20reports%20in%20their%20February,for%2059%25%20of%20that%20number.> [Accessed 27 November 2020].
Sherratt, F., and Turner, M., 2018, June. Exploring the hidden social consequences of working in construction with Q Methodology: Developing a study for Australia and the UK. In Joint CIB W099 and TG59 International Safety, Health, and People in Construction Conference (pp. 283-291). Marketing Aumentado.
Silvestre, J.D., Gaião, C. and De Brito, J. (2011). Gypsum plasterboard walls: inspection, pathological characterization and statistical survey using an expert system. Materiales de Construcción, 62(306), pp.285–297.
Sustainablesources.com, 2020. Construction Waste Recycling – Sustainable Sources LLC. [online] Sustainablesources.com. Available at: <https://sustainablesources.com/recycle-reuse-etc/construction-waste-recycling/> [Accessed 21 November 2020].
Udeaja, C. (2013). Material waste in the construction industry : a review of the legislative and supply chain issues, in Reuse of by products and materials in the construction industry.
Wrap.org.uk, 2020. Plasterboard Waste Recovery From Smaller Building Sites. [online] Wrap.org.uk. Available at: <http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Case%20study%20-%20Plasterboard%20waste%20recovery%20from%20smaller%20building%20sites.pdf> [Accessed 21 November 2020].
Appendix 1: Participation Information Sheet
Study title: A Study of Plasterboard Performance in the UK with Factors Leading To High Wastage in Commercial Buildings
Introduction and purpose of the study: My name is XXXXXXXXXX and I am an undergraduate student at the <<Insert University Name>> studying in my final year of <<Insert Course Name>>, this piece of research is my dissertation to fulfil the requirement of an honours degree. The aim of my research is to to provide detailed information about plasterboard performance in UK construction industry.
Invitation paragraph: I would like to invite you to take part in my research through the means of an interview, which should take no longer than an hour. If you have any queries regarding your role I can answer them for you. You will have time to consider whether you wish to take part and can take this sheet with you.
Additional information: I have decided to conduct interviews with five professionals working in this domain. The participation in the study is completely voluntary and the participants also have the option to withdraw from the study at any stage until they have given their consent to use their interview responses in the research. There will no reimbursement and the only inconvenience or potential disadvantage of participating in the study is that the participants would have to face some inconvenience to take out the time from their scheduled to participate in the interview. This is a purely academic research and the results of the dissertation paper will benefit the understanding of Plasterboard Performance.
Contact details: My contact information is email: <<Insert Email>> mobile: <<Insert Mobile No.>> My supervisor’s contact information is: <<Insert Supervisor Email>>
If you have any questions or concerns you can directly reach out to me or my supervisor.
Study review: <<Insert Supervisor Name>>, my supervisor, will be assessing my ethics throughout the process. The study has been reviewed and given a favourable ethical opinion by the relevant Research Ethics Committee or Panel.
Appendix 2: Participation Consent Form
Study title: A Study of Plasterboard Performance in the UK with Factors Leading to High Wastage in Commercial Buildings
Name of the researcher: XXXXXXXXX
| Please tick the boxes | |
| · I voluntarily agree to participate in this research study. | |
| · I understand that even if I agree to participate now, I can withdraw at any time or refuse to answer any question without any consequences of any kind. | |
| · I understand that participation involves taking part in a personal interview with the researcher. | |
| · I understand that I will not benefit directly from participating in this research | |
| · I understand that I am free to contact any of the people involved in the research to seek further clarification and information. | |
| · I understand that in any report on the results of this research my identity will remain anonymous. This will be done by changing my name and disguising any details of my interview which may reveal my identity or the identity of people I speak about. |
—————————————– —————-
Signature of participant Date
I believe the participant is giving informed consent to participate in this study.
—————————————— ——————-
Signature of researcher Date
Appendix 3: Primary Data (Interview transcripts)
Interview participant one
Q1: What constructional body do you belong to?
I belong to the Chartered Institute of Building
Q2: What’s your current knowledge or information source that keeps you updated on waste management and new legislations?
I get the information from the internet and my peers.
Q3: What do you currently do or use to manage waste on-site that is very effective to waste management?
Some of the actions that we take for managing construction waste during our projects include reduction had the source to cut down on waste generation, diverting the demolition debris and reusing it and also trying to reprocess the salvaged material.
Q4: What is this that you currently doing wrong or has previously been done wrong that affects waste management on-site?
Previously, we did not take any steps to promote the use of any material in the construction site and were purchasing new material whenever required. We collectively realise that it is a waste of money and resources and therefore decided to change this practice.
Q5: Does your company follows construction waste management guidelines and legislations developed by the UK government? If yes, then what are the areas where the guidelines are followed?
Yes, we follow all the construction waste management guidelines and legislations put in place by the government by ensuring sustainable management of the waste produced during the construction activities.
Q6: What are the measures used in a construction project to reduce waste materials?
The most significant measure that we use is by avoiding over-allocation of the resources and material during construction that leads to wastage.
Q7: Why better client relationship is required to manage the construction waste?
Even though the client is informed of our waste management activities and decisions, they do not actively participate in it.
Q8: How waste management measures help in terms of productivity?
I always say that waste management is a small but effective step to improve the productivity of construction projects.
Q9: What is the key waste management planning or framework used in your previous projects?
For most of our projects, we make use of the WRAP or waste and resources action program for managing the waste and for making decisions related to its disposal.
Q10: What is the importance of waste prediction tool in a construction project?
I strongly believe that waste prediction tools are crucial to reducing plasterboard waste as well as other types of waste in construction projects.
Q11: How recycling of plasterboard and other construction waste materials can lead to better waste management?
Recycling is helpful because it helps in reducing the waste that goes to the dumping grounds.
Q12: Is the reuse of construction materials is a profitable option for construction projects?
Yes, reusing the construction material can be beneficial because it can cut down on the overall cost of the project bringing profitability and efficiency.
Q13: Do you think reuse of waste materials or the use of recycled construction materials can reduce project cost? If yes, how it can be led?
Yes, reusing the construction material or recycling it can reduce the project cost and be a profitable option for the construction projects because it reduces the need of additionally purchasing the items that can be easily reused or recycled within the construction site.
Q14: What are the things that should be undertaken by the government to strict waste management for the construction industry?
I would suggest promoting the use of prefabricated material for construction and incorporating products that are recyclable and reusable.
Q15: What’s your recommendation to project managers on how to handle plasterboard wastage on-site?
Plasterboard waste can be easily reused and more and more construction project managers should do it.
Interview participant two
Q1: What constructional body do you belong to?
I work with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Q2: What’s your current knowledge or information source that keeps you updated on waste management and new legislations?
I keep myself updated by going through the industry news sources, magazines and professional body meetings.
Q3: What do you currently do or use to manage waste on-site that is very effective to waste management?
We usually outsource the waste management during our projects but we try to reuse the construction material whenever possible.
Q4: What is this that you currently doing wrong or has previously been done wrong that affects waste management on-site?
We are currently gathering all the waste from the construction site and providing it to the outsourcing agency. I believe that segregating the waste into degradable and non-biodegradable can be helpful for efficient waste management.
Q5: Does your company follows construction waste management guidelines and legislations developed by the UK government? If yes, then what are the areas where the guidelines are followed?
We follow these guidelines always by consulting with our clients and ensuring that any waste that is produced during the construction process is reused effectively to cut down on the total waste from the activity.
Q6: What are the measures used in a construction project to reduce waste materials?
I always suggest that the raw materials required for the construction processes should be stocked in the right proportion to avoid any wastage. I also promote reusing of any waste or excess construction material.
Q7: Why better client relationship is required to manage the construction waste?
I believe that the client plays a very important role and better relationship with clients during the construction project can help in improving the waste management efficiency.
Q8: How waste management measures help in terms of productivity?
Appropriate management of the waste that is produced during the construction activity not only helps in reducing the negative impact of the human activities on the environment but also reduces the cost of the project by promoting the reuse and recycling of the materials.
Q9: What is the key waste management planning or framework used in your previous projects?
We use both SWMP and WRAP program depending upon the discussion with the client and their requirements.
Q10: What is the importance of waste prediction tool in a construction project?
I do not have much knowledge of the waste prediction tools because we mostly outsource the waste produced during our projects.
Q11: How recycling of plasterboard and other construction waste materials can lead to better waste management?
Recycling can help with better waste management because there is less waste polluting our environment.
Q12: Is the reuse of construction materials is a profitable option for construction projects?
Yes, that is why we promote reusing as much waste material as possible.
Q13: Do you think reuse of waste materials or the use of recycled construction materials can reduce project cost? If yes, how it can be led?
Reusing the material and construction waste for recycling it reduces the need for purchasing new material contributing to cost efficiencies.
Q14: What are the things that should be undertaken by the government to strict waste management for the construction industry?
I believe that the government should promote the use of waste prediction tools in the construction industry for reducing the waste produced from these projects.
Q15: What’s your recommendation to project managers on how to handle plasterboard wastage on-site?
The plastic board waste should be reused and recycled as much as possible because sometimes it contains gypsum and if not properly disposed it can be hazardous to the people.
Interview participant three
Q1: What constructional body do you belong to?
I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
Q2: What’s your current knowledge or information source that keeps you updated on waste management and new legislations?
The most significant source of knowledge for me is the judicial bodies, construction industry magazines and journals.
Q3: What do you currently do or use to manage waste on-site that is very effective to waste management?
We understand the dangers of construction waste and therefore we always look for suitable methods for reducing waste production and its better management. We try to recover any construction and material that is used but valuable so that it can be used again.
Q4: What is this that you currently doing wrong or has previously been done wrong that affects waste management on-site?
Even though we try to reduce as much waste as possible, I believe that the construction project managers are still focused on only completing the project on time and often ignore does waste management needs.
Q5: Does your company follows construction waste management guidelines and legislations developed by the UK government? If yes, then what are the areas where the guidelines are followed?
Most definitely yes. We collaborate with waste management companies and outsource any construction material that is reusable to cut down on the waste produced and to abide by the regulations.
Q6: What are the measures used in a construction project to reduce waste materials?
We always make sure that we make use of any waste material that can be reused and in the case where it is impossible to reuse the waste, we promote recycling it.
Q7: Why better client relationship is required to manage the construction waste?
We usually work with clients who do not have much idea about the waste management legislation that is applicable to the construction projects and therefore, it becomes our responsibility to keep them updated of our waste management practices and how they impact the ecology.
Q8: How waste management measures help in terms of productivity?
I believe that following the guidelines for waste management and the suggestions provided for this purpose by the various professional and academic bodies along with the legislation can increase the productivity of the projects.
Q9: What is the key waste management planning or framework used in your previous projects?
The most common framework used for waste management during our construction projects is SWMP or site waste management planning.
Q10: What is the importance of waste prediction tool in a construction project?
The waste prediction tools work significantly in the construction waste management of a project. We use the tools like Intelex, Trashflow and NetWaste for this purpose.
Q11: How recycling of plasterboard and other construction waste materials can lead to better waste management?
I promote recycling because it can help in maintaining sustainability in the construction projects.
Q12: Is the reuse of construction materials is a profitable option for construction projects?
Reusing the material is definitely profitable because it brings down the cost of constructing.
Q13: Do you think reuse of waste materials or the use of recycled construction materials can reduce project cost? If yes, how it can be led?
Both reuse and recycling of the waste in the construction projects can help in tapping the internal sources for the required materials bringing economic benefits for the project.
Q14: What are the things that should be undertaken by the government to strict waste management for the construction industry?
The government should become more strict implementing the existing laws and developing new laws for waste management in the construction sites to cut down on the way standing up in landfill especially when it is recyclable or reusable.
Q15: What’s your recommendation to project managers on how to handle plasterboard wastage on-site?
I would recommend the project managers to incorporate the tools that help in waste prediction for taking appropriate measures for managing the plasterboard waste.
Interview participant four
Q1: What constructional body do you belong to?
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Q2: What’s your current knowledge or information source that keeps you updated on waste management and new legislations?
I like to get my information from the business news channels my colleagues, superiors and subordinates.
Q3: What do you currently do or use to manage waste on-site that is very effective to waste management?
When managing the construction waste on-site we try to increase the awareness of all the project members about the environmental impact of the waste that we produce and how we can prevent adding up to the waste that ends up in the landfills. We promote recycling by separating the waste into designated bins during our projects.
Q4: What is this that you currently doing wrong or has previously been done wrong that affects waste management on-site?
We realised that there was no awareness among the project managers and even other decision-makers responsible for managing the construction projects. I personally took the initiative of working towards increasing this awareness and making them more vigilant and conscious about their choices.
Q5: Does your company follows construction waste management guidelines and legislations developed by the UK government? If yes, then what are the areas where the guidelines are followed?
Yes, we are following the legislation and guidelines by trying to cut down on the total waste that is produced during our construction projects and we also ensure that the waste produced is recycled or reused if possible or given to the waste management companies for appropriate disposal.
Q6: What are the measures used in a construction project to reduce waste materials?
One very popular measure that we use and is widely used in the construction industry is outsourcing waste management to the appropriate agencies and organisations who have the required resources and capabilities and who are also certified by the government for making better use of the waste produced.
Q7: Why better client relationship is required to manage the construction waste?
We mostly practice waste outsourcing and having a good relationship with the client does not play a very important role in this process.
Q8: How waste management measures help in terms of productivity?
Most of the construction waste can be utilised within the project itself and doing this can improve the productivity of the construction activities when done with the right approach.
Q9: What is the key waste management planning or framework used in your previous projects?
We do not make use of any specific framework but we carry out the waste management activities by following the guidelines and legislations provided by the UK Government.
Q10: What is the importance of waste prediction tool in a construction project?
Currently, we are not using any such tools but I have heard about a few and I plan to use them in future because I delete that we can add value to our waste management practices.
Q11: How recycling of plasterboard and other construction waste materials can lead to better waste management?
Recycling helps in conserving the natural resources that are available for us to use and therefore I promote recycling of the waste material from the construction projects.
Q12: Is the reuse of construction materials is a profitable option for construction projects?
Anything that can be used again should always be used when managing the construction project because it not only reduces the waste but also helps in maintaining sustainability and increases the efficient allocation of resources during the construction management.
Q13: Do you think reuse of waste materials or the use of recycled construction materials can reduce project cost? If yes, how it can be led?
I have seen this happen in various construction projects because it cuts down on the need to purchase new material.
Q14: What are the things that should be undertaken by the government to strict waste management for the construction industry?
Promoting proper waste management processes or making it mandatory for the construction project managers to outsource the waste management can help in appropriate management of the waste produced from the construction projects.
Q15: What’s your recommendation to project managers on how to handle plasterboard wastage on-site?
The recommendation that I have for plasterboard waste produced from the construction projects is to reuse or recycle the waste whenever possible or make use of the appropriate processes for disposing of it when required.
Interview participant five
Q1: What constructional body do you belong to?
I am associated with Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Q2: What’s your current knowledge or information source that keeps you updated on waste management and new legislations?
I get the latest information about the waste management and the changing regulation from the internet.
Q3: What do you currently do or use to manage waste on-site that is very effective to waste management?
We are currently making use of Net Waste as the best management tool that helps in reducing and better managing the waste that we produce and also carry out better planning for its disposal.
Q4: What is this that you currently doing wrong or has previously been done wrong that affects waste management on-site?
Previously, we were not using any tool and we also did not consciously practice waste reduction on waste management and were only concerned about meeting the project deadlines.
Q5: Does your company follows construction waste management guidelines and legislations developed by the UK government? If yes, then what are the areas where the guidelines are followed?
Yes, we always make sure that we follow all the legislation and guidelines that the UK government has put in place for construction management by regularly informing our clients of the waste produced and taking suggestions from them while also suggesting ways to put this waste into better use.
Q6: What are the measures used in a construction project to reduce waste materials?
We use several measures like proper planning when ordering the material for construction, reusing and recycling the waste whenever possible and ensuring appropriate disposal of the waste when it is not recyclable.
Q7: Why better client relationship is required to manage the construction waste?
Most of our clients actively participate in the process of waste management and we always welcome their suggestions and input because it can help in for improving our practices.
Q8: How waste management measures help in terms of productivity?
The right management of the waste produced can improve the project productivity.
Q9: What is the key waste management planning or framework used in your previous projects?
The WRAP framework helps us to significantly reduce the total waste that is produced during our construction projects.
Q10: What is the importance of waste prediction tool in a construction project?
We have been using NetWaste as the tool for waste management for our construction projects for a very long time now. It is an excellent tool that not only provides the basic based information but also the underlying details of the type of waste that will be generated.
Q11: How recycling of plasterboard and other construction waste materials can lead to better waste management?
Recycling helps in preventing pollution and therefore it leads to better waste management for the construction managers and for the project that they are managing.
Q12: Is the reuse of construction materials is a profitable option for construction projects?
I believe that reusing the construction material is definitely a profitable option for the construction projects.
Q13: Do you think reuse of waste materials or the use of recycled construction materials can reduce project cost? If yes, how it can be led?
Yes, reusing and recycling the waste material helps in conserving the natural resources and also and sure that we are able to make more productive use of the material that is available with us.
Q14: What are the things that should be undertaken by the government to strict waste management for the construction industry?
The government should consider a detailed plan for the disposal of waste that can be toxic and hazardous that is produced from the construction materials and strictly implement it for better waste management.
Q15: What’s your recommendation to project managers on how to handle plasterboard wastage on-site?
I would recommend the project managers to take help from the waste management agencies who provide t
No Comments