SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA: A CONTRACTOR’S PERSPECTIVE

misbe2011 Tracking Number 224

The Malaysian construction industry continues to grow, benefiting the country’s economy and providing essential infrastructure. However, this thriving industry is responsible for one of the single largest waste streams in the country. This paper focuses on the current status of waste management in the Malaysian construction sector. It builds on existing research and assesses the level of sustainable practices on construction sites in terms of waste management. It is a reflective paper examining the attitudes and reaction of Malaysian contractors towards a more structured approach to on-site sustainable resource and waste management, the “Site Waste Management Plan”. The Site Waste Management Plan, is a framework that has been used in Europe and has successfully reduced on-site construction waste generation. The aim of this study is to gauge the industry’s appetite and commitment to sustainable waste management and ultimately guide the future development of a framework for the management of construction wastes in Malaysia. A number of semi-structured interviews were conducted with Malaysian contractors, with no previous experience of Site Waste Management Plans. This exercise allowed the researchers to explore the industry’s level of awareness and commitment to sustainable waste management, identify current barriers and suggest future recommendations for an implementation strategy. Keywords: sustainability, construction waste management, Malaysia