Factors influencing building refurbishment site managers’ waste management efforts
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse the factors influencing refurbishment site managers’ waste management efforts.
Design/methodology/approach
Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews were held with managers from two large contractors involved in housing and office refurbishment projects in Sweden. Also, a web and postal questionnaire survey was sent to 232 refurbishment site managers and received a 34 per cent response rate.
Findings
Site managers devise waste management strategies based on environmental inventories and project size. In smaller projects, waste contractors are employed only for physical activities rather than providing advice. Site managers’ waste management efforts are influenced by project-related factors, organizational and personal factors, technical factors, industry culture and legislation. The level of contract detail, specific client demands related to waste management and project size are important factors.
Practical implications
Policies and guidelines for projects of different sizes should be developed at least for large contractors; scale influences site managers’ waste strategies. Waste management efforts in refurbishment projects can be improved by addressing simple technical problems including providing clear labelling of containers and ensuring shelter from rain and snow.
Originality/value
This is a pioneer survey of refurbishment site manager opinions and practices. Inefficient waste management in building refurbishment projects can be costly and harmful to the environment. There are many opportunities to improve waste management efforts.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to the Chalmers University of Technology Centre for Management of the Built Environment (CMB), the Swedish Construction Confederation (BI) and the National Transdisciplinary Centre of Excellence for Integrated Sustainable Renovation (SIRen) for financial support, as well as Sverige Bygger AB for providing database information. The author thanks Dr Hendry Raharjo, Chalmers University of Technology, for statistical advice.
Citation
Sezer, A.A. (2017), "Factors influencing building refurbishment site managers’ waste management efforts", Journal of Facilities Management, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 318-334. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-10-2016-0041
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited