The Mediating Role of Policy-Related Factors in the Relationship between Practice of Waste Generation and Sustainable Construction Waste Minimisation: PLS-SEM

As the construction industry grows, it produces large volumes of construction waste, which has a tremendous environmental impact and generates public concern in the neighbouring towns. The construction industry generates a significant volume of waste and faces a challenge with poor construction waste minimisation in order to prevent adverse environmental and dumping impacts worldwide. In developing countries, regional waste management systems have increased problems. Environmental pollution (air, water, and soil) and human health issues are caused by waste produced in a country as a result of different cultural, social, and religious activities. Prior studies were reviewed to choose dimensions and items for the data gathering instrument. A pilot test was conducted to identify potential questionnaire adjustments, and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). A total of 220 Malaysian construction professionals answered the survey, which yielded the results. Five hypotheses have direct correlations based on the findings, three of which have a significant effect. Furthermore, the findings reveal that policy-related factors mediate the relationship between improving factors and sustainable construction waste minimisation. In contrast, they did not mediate the relationship between current practices/generation and sustainable construction waste management. The established framework can help improve construction waste management and help achieve global sustainable development goals. The data reveal that adopting preventive plans to reduce construction waste is one of the most important aspects of enhancing profitability. This study could aid construction industry players in evaluating waste management components during the construction and design stages of a building project.

Construction Technology of Precast Pier Foundation Filled with Demolished Concrete Lumps

Applying of demolished concrete lumps (DCLs) in the pier foundation is an effective way to improve the efficiency of construction waste resource utilization. Fifty-two cylindrical specimens with the size of ∅ 250 mm × 500 mm were fabricated by mixing of DCLs with the fresh concrete (FC) and used to investigate the influence of two key factors, the gradation of the DCLs and the height setting of layered “steel mesh,” on the uniaxial compression and flexural strength properties of the compound concrete specimens. Results indicate that the layered “steel mesh” in the specimens can restrain the settlement and segregation of the DCLs and improve the compressive and flexural strength of the specimens significantly. Normally, there are two types of failure damage mode of the test pieces, the failure of the interface between DCLs and the FC and the fracture failure of the DCLs. When the stress level is below 0.5, the test piece is in the elastic stage. Crack development occurs when stress level further increase to 0.7–0.9. The pieces with the layered pouring height of H2 and the DCLs of R3 present the optimum compressive strength and flexural strength and also best construction effect.