ASSESSMENT OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WASTE REUSE ON SELECTED CONSTRUCTION SITES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The construction industry has not only become a major consumer of materials, it has also become a source of materials wastage, as waste cannot be totally eradicated on construction sites. This research therefore aim to assess construction materials waste reuse on construction sites in Oyo State, Nigeria, using fourteen (14) ongoing building construction sites under the supervision on the Five (5) selected construction firms.. This study evaluate methods of reuse, factors influencing reuse and strategies employed to carried out reuse of materials on construction sites. An interview protocol was conducted to examine the methods for materials waste reuse while, factors influencing and reuse strategies were obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using Percentile, Mean Item Score (MIS), Content Analysis, Relative Important Index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis Test. The findings revealed that the adoption of waste reuse is common on construction sites while, repurpose, remanufacture and salvage as proactive reuse methods to achieve low waste generated on sites. Results also showed that lack of well developed market for reusable materials, poor execution in governing construction materials waste, company policies, lack of employee to sort-out reusable waste and inadequate storage facilities were most important factor influencing reuse. In addition, reuse strategies adopted by the construction firms were storing, marketing and sorting. The study therefore recommends that more knowledge should be acquire on how to utilize reusable waste, mature market should be developed for trading reusable materials, waste containers should be within workers reach and contracting firms should partner with waste collectors in order to reduce rigorous waste on construction sites and achieve low waste construction projects.