Pune has seen a significant development in the construction industry. The spike prominently is seen in redevelopment projects due to the rise in population, economic development, and modern infrastructure needs, and will continue in the future, too. Redevelopment projects involve the transformation of aging and underutilized structures and areas specifically for long periods into modern, sustainable, & technologically advanced structures for better living standards. This results in creating a challenge for the management of Construction and Demolition waste created in this redevelopment project. Pune tries to attempt to solve this problem but fails due to taking proper disciplinary action against unethical practices.
C&D Waste Generation
Pune, the developing suburb, witnessed remarkable construction activity over the past few decades and this comes with the huge generation of construction & demolition waste, leading to environmental challenges. Demolition waste includes: concrete, wood, metal, glass, & plastic. According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) approx. 250 MT waste is generated and to handle this PMC has developed a Detail Project Report (DPR) to understand the quantity, quality, source of waste, etc. (as mentioned on the government’s official website) with consultation for every stakeholder to address their issues and concerns but still not enough as the intervention of government is practically zero.
Initiatives and Measures
The government body has made an initiative to mark 2 acres of land for the construction and demolition waste management processing facility at Wagholi. The aim was to divert waste from landfills & promote recycling of waste material. As per reports 70 metric tonnes of waste are generated at Wagholi, of which the plant will handle 20 metric tonnes, with the expectation of an increase in number further. A material recovery facility (MRF) with technology known as Eco Bean. But failed due to long-distance transportation, leading to transportation charges by the project owners.
But another noteworthy technique was worked out well of on-site separation & processing of demolition materials to help in reducing transportation costs & environmental impact. In addition to environmental benefits, it also has economic advantages and helps in creating new job opportunities for contributing to the local economy.
Current Practices
In redevelopment project cases, the workflow goes like the project owner makes a contract with the demolition contractor. Accordingly, estimations are worked out and a certain amount is paid to the demolition contractor as per contract. Material extracted from the site is: – concrete/bricks, metal, timber. The process of demolition, segregation, and transportation of debris is done and the site is handed over after the clearing process. Chakan has a big market for metal scrape; which is up-cycled. Concrete debris is either used in plinth filling or dumped in landfills at the end. On average, nearly 25% of the material goes to landfilling. To stop this government comes up with some initiatives but practically has 0 intervention in waste management processes and audits as of current conditions. No, as such existing regulations are audited by local body authorities on ground zero. Stakeholders find loopholes and constantly neglect the needs of tomorrow. Building awareness & fostering a culture of sustainability within the community is crucial.
Possible Solutions
Construction and demolition waste management still has many scopes of improvement. Finding alternate materials as we are now on the verge of extinction of virgin materials. The market for new alternatives and recycling in the construction industry should be encouraged. Imposing strict laws & implementing beneficial schemes to grab the attention of stakeholders by government bodies should be done. Awareness for building trust over recycled materials for promoting its demand is needed. Workshops and programs should be conducted to make every stakeholder understand the need for change for better environmental and economic well-being.
The intervention of government bodies with Strick tax policies should be introduced to reduce waste generation and prevent unsafe disposal for supporting environmental sustainability. Initiatives should be taken to educate all the stakeholders on management insights. Collaboration between government bodies, private enterprises & research institutes will lead to a sustainable ecosystem. More awareness should be created among all stakeholders and new solutions should be made possible to apply in practical life, on a large scale. Economic analysis plays an important role in construction and demolition waste management. One of the biggest blockages is the lack of market demand & trust for recycled material. While undergoing remarkable growth in the construction industry with the extinction of primary resources, the need for secondary materials has risen. Creating a market for construction and demolition waste materials is important, to make investment in C&D waste management by stakeholders. By contributing these few efforts, we can be successful in creating a sustainable system that reduces the ecological footprint and contributes to a better circular economy & environment.
Citation:
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