CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The construction industry is one of the main contributors towards the development of nations,
providing the necessary infrastructure and physical structures for activities such as
commerce, services and utilities. The industry generates employment opportunities and
injects money into a nations economy by creating foreign and local investment opportunities .
However, despite these contributions, the construction industry has also been linked to
global warming, environmental pollution and degradation (Jones & Greenwood, 2009).
Construction waste generation and unsustainable use of depleting natural resources as
building materials, are also linked to the adverse environmental impacts of the construction
industry. Globally, it is estimated that approximately 10 to 30 per cent of wastes disposed off in
landfills originates from construction and demolition activities in Malaysia, construction
waste is one the single largest waste stream and yet despite a number of government policy
initiatives to address this issue, sustainable resource and waste management on site
remains a low priority for the majority of the contractors. This study explores the Malaysian
contractors perspective in relation to sustainable resource and waste management and in
particular the application of a more structured management framework, based on the
Construction Waste Management Plan (CWMP) approach. The paper examines what
appetite there might be for the adoption of CWMP, to explore the industrys level of
awareness and commitment to sustainable waste management, to identify current barriers
and suggest future recommendations for an implementation strategy. The paper concludes
with recommendations for the formulation of a Malaysian CWMP, based on the
empirical findings of this investigation.

As urbanization continues to take place, the management of construction waste is becoming a

major public health and environmental concern in urban areas of many developing countries.
The concern is serious, particularly in the capital city of Malaysia, which is the gateway to the
countries for foreign diplomats, businessmen, and tourists. Poor visual appearance of the city
will have negative impacts on official and tourist visits and foreign investment.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 1

Recognizing its importance, a number of developing countries have requested collaboration of

external support agencies, both bilateral and multilateral, in improving of waste management
system in their cities in the last 20 years or so. Although some projects succeeded in providing
lasting positive impacts on the management of construction waste in the recipient countries and
cities, many failed to continue activities after the external support agencies ceased their
support. This unsustainability of collaborative projects is due to various technical, financial,
institutional, economic, and social constraints faced by both the recipient countries/cities.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 2

2.0 WHAT IS CONSTRUCTION WASTE

Construction, demolition and landclearing debris is all non-hazardous solid waste resulting from
construction, demolition and landclearing activities. Construction,demolition and landclearing
waste materials that can be salvaged, reused or recycled include, but are not limited to the
following :

Roof tile

Gypsum board

Timber & wood

Brick

Insulation

Plastic film & vinyl

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 3

Cardboard

Landclearing debris

Window glass

Carpet and pad

Metal and steel

Site office waste (paper, cans,

Concrete

Paint

glass & plastic bottles)

3.0 CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT

The ideal of construction waste management method is by recycling. Most construction waste
goes into landfills, increasing the burden on landfill loading and operation. Waste from sources
such as solvents or chemically treated wood can result in soil and water pollution.
Some materials can be recycled directly into the same product for re-use. Others can be
reconstituted into other usable products. Unfortunately, recycling that requires reprocessing is
not usually economically feasible unless a facility using recycled resources is located near the
material source. Many construction waste materials that are still usable can be donated to nonprofit organizations. This keeps the material out of the landfill and supports a good cause.
The most important step for recycling of construction waste is on-site separation. Initially, this
will take some extra effort and training of construction personnel. Once separation habits are
established, on-site separation can be done at little or no additional cost.
The initial step in a construction waste reduction strategy is good planning. Design should be
based on standard sizes and materials should be ordered accurately. Additionally, using high
quality materials such as engineered products reduces rejects such as R.C Precast Industrilised
Building System (IBS) by usage of prefabricated components. This approach can reduce the
amount of material needing to be recycled and bolster profitability and economy for the builder
and customer.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 4

IBS building

IBS concrete stair

IBS Coloumn

IBS building

3.1 MATERIALS SEPARATION, RECYCLING & WASTE MINIMIZATION

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 5

Containers for material recycling must be set up on site and clearly labeled. Construction
personnel must be trained in material sorting policy, and bins must be monitored periodically to
prevent waste mixing as a result of crews or passerby throwing trash into the bins.
Some materials will require bins or storage that protect from rain. Other bins may be locked to
prevent tampering.

(a) Timber and wood

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 6

i.

Optimize building dimensions to correspond to standard timber dimensions.

ii.

Modify framing details to optimize timber use and reduce waste and inform framing
contractor of your plan.

iii.

Develop detailed framing layouts to avoid waste when ordering timber.

iv.

Store timber on level blocking under cover to minimize warping, twisting and waste.

v.

Set aside timber and plywood cut-offs that can be used later as fire blocking, spacers in
header construction, etc.

vi.

In remodeling, evaluate whether salvaging used timber is possible.

vii.

Save clean sawdust for use in compost piles or around gardens. Avoid sawdust that might
contain painted or treated wood. This should be bagged separately.

(b) Gypsum board

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 7

i.

Order gypsum board in optimal dimensions to minimize cut-off waste. Gypsum board is
available in different lengths, and designed dimensions should correspond to standard
sizes.

ii.

Large gypsum board scraps can be set aside during hanging for use as filler pieces in
areas such as closets.

iii.

Technology exists, although it is not available in Malaysia at this time, for recycling
gypsum board into textured wall sprays, acoustical coatings, gypsum stucco, fire barriers,
or agricultural products.

iv.

Reuse joint compound buckets for tool or material storage.

(c) Masonry

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 8

i.

Estimate masonry material needs carefully to avoid waste.

ii.

During construction, collect, stack and cover brick and other masonry materials to
prevent soiling or loss.

iii.

Salvage usable bricks, blocks, slate shingles, tile and other masonry materials from
remodeling and construction. Store for future jobs or divert to salvage operations.

iv.

Check to see if masonry supplier will accept the return of materials in good condition.
Clean concrete chunks, old brick, broken blocks, and other masonry rubble can be buried
on-site during foundation back-filling.

v.

Good quality used concrete (also known as urbanite) can also be used as brick or block
for landscaping walls and foundations for small buildings.

(d) Metals and steel

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 9

i.

During remodeling, separate metal radiators, grates, piping, aluminum siding, and old
appliances for salvage or recycling.

ii.

Consider a front yard sale of usable items during the construction process.

iii.

During construction, separate metals for recycling, including copper piping, wire and
flashing; aluminum siding, flashing and guttering; iron and steel banding from bundles,
nails and fasteners, galvanized flashing and roofing, and rebar; and lead chimney
flashing. It is critical to keep lead out of landfills because it could leach into groundwater.

(e) Cardboard and paper

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 10

i.

Avoid excessively packaged materials and supplies. However, be sure packaging is

adequate to prevent damage and waste.

ii.

Separate cardboard waste, bundle, and store in a dry place and can be recycled.

iii.

Minimize the number of blueprints and reproductions necessary during the design and
construction process.

(f) Insulation

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 11

i.

Install left-over insulation in interior wall cavities or on top of installed attic insulation if
it can not be used on another job.

(g) Plastic film & vinyl

i.

Minimize waste of plastic film, vinyl siding, flooring, UPVC and countertop materials by
ordering only quantity needed.

ii.

Trash bags and plastic sheeting can be recycled.

4.0 CONSTRAINTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRY OF MALAYSIA

A typical construction waste management system in a developing country displays an array of

problems, including low collection coverage and irregular collection services, crude open
dumping and burning without air and water pollution control, the breeding of flies and vermin,
and the handling and control of informal waste picking or scavenging activities. These public
health, environmental, and management problems are caused by various factors which constrain
the development of effective construction waste management systems. They can be categorized
into technical, financial, institutional, economic, and social constraints. Each of these constraints
is in relation to the sustainability of solid waste collaborative projects as listed below:CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 12

(a) Technical Constraints

i.

In most developing countries, there typically is a lack of human resources at both the
national and local levels with technical expertise necessary for waste management
planning and operation. Many officers in charge of waste management, particularly at the
local level, have little or no technical background or training in engineering or
management. Without adequately trained personnel, a project initiated by external
consultants could not be continued. Therefore, the development of human resources in
the recipient country of external support is essential for the sustainability of the
collaborative project.

ii.

Another technical constraint in developing countries is the lack of overall plans for waste
management at the local and national levels. As a result, a solid waste technology is often
selected without due consideration to its appropriateness in the overall of waste
management system. In some cases, foreign assistance is given to a component of a
construction waste management system for which the use of resources may not be most
cost-effective. For instance, an external support agency provided its support to improve a
general disposal site. However, the coverage of solid waste collection service is so low
that solid waste generated is dumped at many undesignated sites (e.g., open areas, water
channels, streets, etc.). As a result, improving the disposal site, although it may not be a
bad project, would have little impact on the overall waste management effectiveness. In
such a case, the low collection coverage is a bottleneck in the overall construction waste
management system in the city, and it would be most cost-effective to provide resources
to upgrade the collection service.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 13

iii.

Research and development activities in waste management are often a low priority in
developing countries. The lack of research and development activities in developing
countries leads to the selection of inappropriate technology in terms of the local climatic
and physical conditions, financial and human resource capabilities, and social or cultural
acceptability. As a result, the technology selected can never be used, wasting the
resources spent and making the project unsustainable. Several guides/manuals on
appropriate waste management technologies in developing countries are available in the
literature, and the selection of technology could be made sometimes based on these
guides/manuals. However, in most cases, these guides/manuals must be modified to the
local conditions prevailing in the country, and therefore local studies are normally still
needed. Such studies can be relatively easily incorporated into a collaborative project
and, to the extent possible, should involve local research institutions.

(b) Financial Constraints

i.

In general, waste management is given a very low priority in developing countries,

except perhaps in capital and large cities. As a result, very limited funds are provided to
the waste management sector by the governments, and the levels of services required for
protection of public health and the environment are not attained.

ii.

The problem is acute at the local government level where the local taxation system is
inadequately developed and, therefore, the financial basis for public services, including
construction waste management, is weak. This weak financial basis of local governments
can be supplemented by the collection of user service charges. However, users' ability to
pay for the services is very limited in poorer developing countries, and their willingness
to pay for the services which are irregular and ineffective is not high either. An effective
strategy for raising funds needs to be searched in any collaborative project to ensure its
sustainability.

iii.

In addition to the limited funds, many local governments in developing countries lack
good financial management and planning. The lack of financial management and
planning, particularly cost accounting, depletes the limited resources available for the
sector even more quickly, and causes the waste management services to halt for some
periods, thus losing the trust of service users.
CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 14

(c) Institutional Constraints

i.

Several agencies at the national level are usually involved at least partially in
construction waste management. However, there are often no clear roles/functions of the
various national agencies defined in relation to waste management and also no single
agency or committee designated to coordinate their projects and activities. The lack of
coordination among the relevant agencies often results in different agencies becoming the
national counterpart to different external support agencies for different waste
management collaborative projects without being aware of what other national agencies
are doing. This leads to duplication of efforts, wasting of resources, and unsustainability
of overall construction waste management programmes.

ii.

The lack of effective legislation for construction waste management, which is a norm in
most developing countries, is partially responsible for the roles/functions of the relevant
national agencies not being clearly defined and the lack of coordination among them.

iii.

Because of a low priority given to the sector, the institutional capacity of local
government agencies involved in solid waste management is generally weak, particularly
in small cities and towns. Local ordinance/by-laws on construction waste management is
not also well developed. These weak local government institutions are not provided with
clear mandates and sufficient resources to fulfil the mandates. In large metropolitan areas
where there are more than one local government, coordination among the local
governments is critical to achieve the most cost-effective alternatives for solid waste
CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 15

management in the area. For instance, the siting of a solid waste transfer station or
disposal facility for use by more than one local governments is cost-effective due to its
economy of scale. The lack of a coordinating body among the local governments often
leads to disintegrated and unsustainable programmes for construction waste management.

(d) Economic Constraints

i.

Economic and industrial development play key roles in waste management. Obviously,
an enhanced economy enables more funds to be allocated for waste management,
providing a more sustainable financial basis. However, by definition, developing
countries have weak economic bases and, hence, insufficient funds for sustainable
development of construction waste management systems.

ii.

Local industry which produces relatively inexpensive solid waste equipment and vehicles
will reduce, or in some cases could eliminate totally, the need for importing expensive
foreign equipment/vehicles and therefore foreign exchange. Such local industry can also
supply associated spare parts, lack of which is often responsible for irregular and
insufficient waste collection and disposal services.

iii.

However, the lack of industry manufacturing solid waste equipment and spare parts and a
limited foreign exchange for importing such equipment/spare parts are the rule rather
than exception in developing countries.

(e) Social Constraints

i.

The social status of solid waste management workers is generally low in both developed
and developing countries, but more so in developing countries then developed countries.
This owes much to a negative perception of people regarding the work which involves
the handling of waste or unwanted material. Such people's perception leads to the
CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 16

disrespect for the work and in turn produces low working ethics of laborers and poor
quality of their work.

ii.

Because of insufficient resources available in the government sector, collaborative

projects often have attempted to mobilize community resources and develop community
self-help activities. Results are a mixture of success and failures. Failed projects with
inactive communities usually did not provide people in the community with economic as
well as social incentives to participate in activities. The social incentive is based on the
responsibility of individuals as part of the community for the improvement of the
community, and is created by public awareness and school education programmes. The
lack of public awareness and school education about the importance of proper waste
management for health and well-being of people severely restricts the use of communitybased approaches in developing countries.

5.0 BENEFITS OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT

Recycling and reuse of materials have long been associated with wise construction practices.
Experienced contractors are now reaping the economic advantages of Construction Waste
Management. Communities are also seeing the side benefits as listed below:-

(a)Trim costs
i.

You can cut your costs by using materials more effectively, reducing the amount of waste
you need to dispose of and improving the efficiency of your staff and contractors. You
may then be able to offer your services at a lower price to try and win more tenders.

ii.

Actively reducing waste from your construction projects can also differentiate your
business from your competitors by becoming a 'green' builder. Clients who are aware of
CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 17

the impact that waste can have on their costs and public image are increasingly seeking to
use contractors that understand and pursue reductions in waste.

iii.

Recycling, reusing, and salvaging construction waste can save money. Many of the
contractors that have embraced Construction Waste Management have made changes to
their operations and practices to take advantage of reduced waste disposal costs and
revenues derived from recycle, reuse and salvage materials. Utilizing reuse and salvage
methods on site reduce the need for new materials, reduces materials that end up in the
landfill, creates a cleaner and safer project site, and improves community relations.

Crushergrinding machine

Soft board by recycled wood

Recycled waste wood

Recycled chair (plastic)

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 18

Recycling crushing plant

Recycled aggregate

Recycled bricks

Recycled aggregates stockpile

Recycled floor tile

Recycled precast concrete product

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 19

b) Environmental benefits

i.

The study shows that waste minimisation is economically feasible and also plays an
important role for the improvement of environmental management. In this view,
economic instruments for minimising construction waste can be used to raise revenue for
environmental policy, encourage prevention efforts, serve to discourage the least
desirable disposal practices, as well as to avoid the negative consequences of
environmental unfriendly treatment and disposal practices of construction waste
materials.

ii.

Environmental benefits also result from recycling and waste prevention programs. In the
long run, preventing waste reduces dependence on natural resources such as trees, oil,
and minerals plus creates less pollution by reducing manufacturing and transportation
related emissions. Reduction of the energy and water required to produce building
supplies from virgin materials contributes to reduced greenhouse gasses related to the
manufacturing and transportation of those materials.

iii.

Salvaging materials through waste management helps reducing the burden on landfills,
which have already reached their capacity in many localities. By focusing on the reuse
and recycling of existing materials, waste management system preserves the invested
energy embodied in materials, eliminating the need to expend additional energy to
process new materials.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 20

(c ) Safety and health benefits

i.

The goal of occupational construction waste management is to foster a safe and healthy
work environment.As secondary effects, may also protect co-workers, employers,
customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are
impacted by the workplace environment as well as reduce medical care, sick leave and
disability benefit costs.

ii.

Developing and implementing a comprehensive construction waste management program

ensures that staff will know and follow proper disposal requirements, leading to a
healthier, safer environment and no major safety or health issued are associated with
minimizing construction waste were identified.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 21

6.0 CONCLUSIONS

Construction waste management plans provide a useful framework for the sustainable
resource and waste management of construction waste, offering environmental, social
and financial benefits. The aim of their implementation on site is to increase the
resource efficiency of materials through recycling, reusing or recovering products
before they are disposed, and reducing environmental problems, such as illegal
dumping and open burning.

There are many proven benefits of construction waste management plans for
contractors, such as cost and time savings, increased productivity on site, good
corporate social responsibility and the ability to control the quality and ensure the
safety of project sites as a result of a clean site environment.
However, despite these benefits construction waste management remains poorly
implemented in construction projects in Malaysia, despite some promotion from the
Government and CIDB. It is clear that more efforts are required by CIDB and the
Government to promote and develop construction waste management plans into the
local construction industry and contribute to the countrys aspirations for sustainable
growth. Based on the results of this exploratory exercise guidance, practical tools,
regulation and incentives are amongst the priorities highlighted by the Malaysian
contractors.

7.0 REFERENCE
Characterization of Construction Site Waste (1993), Metro Solid Waste Department
Portland, OR.)

Bartone, C.R. 1995. "The role of the private sector in developing countries: Keys to
success. Paper presented at ISWA Conference on Waste Management.

UK. Welsh School of Architecture Jones, Phil & Greenwood, Rubina. (2009).
Construction Waste Minimisation in Housing.

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 Japan International Cooperation Agency (2006). The study on national waste

minimisation in Malaysia.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA 23