BUILDING CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT: EVALUATION IN KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ

Abstract

In the construction industry, material waste contributes to a major problem, and the necessity for managing material waste is vital. The main objective of this research was to determine the significant factors that contribute to construction wastes in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, particularly in the city of Sulaymaniyah. The construction industry provides a foundation for future construction projects and thus it is significant to avoid and eliminate the causes of material wastes in the construction process. The objective of the study is to investigate the practice of material waste in the building construction sector with the goal of motivating the performance of managing construction projects in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The survey questionnaire was the main technique used for conducting and collecting primary data from relevant governmental bodies and construction companies with a study sample of 50 respondents. The result of the analysis demonstrated that the conventional construction method was the most common method utilised for construction. Also, the result illustrated that the main sources and causes of material waste were weak strategy for waste minimisation, lack of staff's awareness on waste management practices, and poor materials storage system. The most wasteful materials were also determined, which included formworks (from timber/wood), tile, sand, and concrete. Apart from that, the result found that possible measures which might contribute to the minimisation of material wastes included the implementation of effective site management and supervision techniques, employing skilled labour, and on-site material storage that is appropriate.

Keywords: Management, material, waste, construction.