Assessing the compliance to legislation pertaining to management and disposal of construction and demolition waste
Date
2016
Authors
Olusanya, Olubanke Olubukola
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Abstract
Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste generation is a universal problem and available landfill space is reducing as landfills reach capacity. Despite the huge effect of construction and demolition waste on the environment, there has been very little research on legislation around waste, and it is therefore increasingly important that compliance with legislation pertaining to management and disposal of construction and demolition waste be assessed.
This study explored departmental awareness of the Waste Act in the City of Johannesburg municipality and also in the utility Pikitup, and assessed how the Act has been able to reduce waste. Qualitative data collection techniques in the form of unstructured interviews were used to interview 4 persons in the City of Johannesburg legal department, and 3 persons in the Pikitup department.
The challenges and barriers the municipality faces due to the ineffectiveness of the relevant legislation were assessed to gain insight into difficulties with compliance. In addition, the study evaluated the effectiveness of the enforcement strategies that have been used. The results revealed that there is little or no awareness of the legislation so it is difficult for construction site workers to apply it effectively in their waste management activities. In addition, the results exposed a need for a review of the Waste Act as it applies to smaller construction firms and also renovation works, since it was found that it is impracticable for smaller companies to comply effectively with the legislation.
All in all, this research sheds more light on the legislation and its purpose, and also on the reasons why it has been quite difficult to achieve compliance with this legislation in the construction and demolition sector. The research will enable useful recommendations for the municipality and also potentially raise awareness of the importance of legislation within the construction community.
Key words:
Construction waste, Creation, Disposal, Legislation, Management,
Description
A final research report submitted in fulfilment of part of the requirements for the degree of
MSc Project management in construction in the school of construction economics and management, University of Witwatersrand
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Citation
Olusanya, Olubanke Olubukola (2016) Assessing the compliance to legislation pertaining to management and disposal of construction and demolition waste, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, < http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/22420>