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Download PDF FileReducing waste in Ghana's construction faces many challenges like changing how things are done and dealing with logistics, resources, culture, and industry practices.
The following text comprises the study's introduction.
Introduction
The world faces one common challenge: waste disposal in construction projects (conserve-energy-future.com, 2020). As the population of humans increases, the need to create living space for them implies the construction of new roads, houses, and commercial buildings.
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Due to this steady growth in population and influential construction works, many countries face challenges in managing their construction waste. Thus, local authorities and governments are overwhelmed by it (Douti, Abanyie, and Ampofo, 2017). Adu-Boahen et al. (2014) write in their paper that noticeable waste disposal problems can be seen in 9 out of 10 African countries.
However, a visit to Ghana's towns and cities depicts a severe problem in waste disposal management. This is evidenced by the sight of heaps of rubbish, scattering of polythene bags, and overflowing or overloading of sites with construction wastes which consequently results in health risks such as malaria, cholera, and typhoid the people who are in proximity to the waste disposal sites.
To assess the waste reduction challenges in the construction industry of Ghana, the research has focused on the waste management of solid materials like concrete, bricks, tiles, cement, and ceramics.
Contextual Background
The construction industry of Ghana is the basic pillar of the city's development and accounts for 14.8% of Ghana's annual GDP (Adu-Boahen, 2014). The construction industry of Ghana recorded a positive increase of 16.8% in 2016 and continues to grow (Veitch, 2017). As the population increases, there is an increasing demand for housing and private enterprises construction, the Ghanaian industries are working on a greater scale to provide the citizens with their basic needs, and this calls for a surge in construction which leads to an increase in the waste disposal from the industries affecting the environment and the citizens (Marzouk and Azab, 2014).
Ghana's cities are more concerned about waste management than small towns (Amoah and Kosoe, 2014). Some of the waste is transported to the legal dump areas, whereas the majority of the waste is left to defuse in the environment (Njoroge, Kimani, and Ndunge, 2014). Nevertheless, researchers suggest that waste should be dumped according to its type to the respective dumping areas, burned, or recycled in order to control waste production (Moh and Manaf, 2014). The country's current situation depicts that much has to be done to overcome the waste management challenges.
Research Aim and Objectives
- This Study aims to explore the challenges in encouraging waste reduction activities within the commercial projects of the Ghanaian construction industry. The objectives of the research are given as follows:
- To determine the role of commercial construction projects in Ghana in producing waste and measures put in place to curb it and to provide recommendations for waste reduction in a commercial project within the Ghanaian construction industry.
- To evaluate the role of construction workers and project managers in implementing waste reduction practices for commercial construction projects.
- To identify the challenges being encountered in waste reduction in a commercial project within the Ghanaian construction industry
Research Problem
The factors considered from the literature suggest that the Ghanaian construction industry faces a major waste disposal problem with materials like cement, bricks, tiles, ceramic, and concrete; thus, several measures should be taken to reduce waste disposal. Previous research reveals the direct pressure exerted on the construction industry as the Ghanaian population increases (Cobbinah, Gaisie, and Owusu-Amponsah, 2015; Ametepey, Aigbavboa, and Ansah, 2015). There is an upsurge in construction activities, and therefore the waste disposal increases, eventually leading to a major problem (Heacock et al. 2015).
It has been considered that the problem arises with the employees as well since they are not fully trained and are oblivious to waste disposal programs (Ofstad et al. 2017). These gaps can be addressed by providing the employees with a training program about recycling procedures (Kheni, 2014). An analysis shows that the government is working on waste disposal policies and procedures and constructing infrastructure for waste dumping (Oteng-Ababio, Amankwaa, and Chama, 2014). There is a greater need for creating waste management policies and programs (Manahan, 2017).
The Rationale of the Study
Methane production from construction waste continuously impacts the environment, as it is a greenhouse gas and causes global warming (Marrero et al., 2017). Having multiple efforts by governments across the globe, the issue is still unresolved, and not even technology can effectually curb it (Adu-Boahen, 2014). Therefore, the rationale of this study is to find out the challenges Ghanaian construction faces regarding waste reduction so that the overall ecological impact of this sector can be reduced. Such issues of waste management have to be addressed to find solutions so that implementations can be enacted.
Significance of the Study
This Study encompasses the challenges the Ghanaian construction industry faces regarding waste disposal and the measures taken to overcome the problem. It is not only the duty of the government or factory labourers to work on minimizing waste disposal issues, but the citizens also must cooperate (Budica et al. 2015). To overcome the problem affecting the whole country, every single person must play a role in solving the issue and follow government policies.
Structure of the Study
The structure of this Study includes the following sections;
- Chapter Introduction: In this section, a general overview of the topic is given, and a discussion is made on the topic's background.
- Chapter Literature Review: In this section, the research focuses on past studies showing Ghana's waste management problems. Arguments from different researchers will be gathered, and the construction industry's perspective will be explained.
- Chapter Research Methodology: This section describes whether the methods employed in this Study are qualitative or quantitative.
- Chapter Data collection: This chapter will collect data to produce results that would enable the researcher to support their objectives.
- Chapter Data Analysis: After data collection, this chapter will analyse data to produce results so that the objectives are achieved.
- Conclusion and Recommendations: In this last section, the researchers will give their final comments on what were the results obtained from the analysis. Recommendations will also be provided if there is a flaw in the system or management.
Here's a snippet from the study's literature review.
Literature Review
Waste is considered the by-product of human activities, commonly known as 'Useless Remains' generated from use (Corwin, 2018).
Conceptualizing Waste Production
According to this definition, waste production in construction is the act of buying, using, and finally discarding a product. Although waste is not only generated from human use, it can also be a product of construction processes. White, Dranke, and Hindle (2012) have described waste generation in an industry like the construction industry in four interlinked steps. According to the study, a factory consumes materials and energy to develop valuable goods and services for its customers. However, in the process of creating that product of value, several unused or discarded items are thrown away as waste. This entire process is called waste production.
The concept of waste production is associated with a high-risk phenomenon to the environment and even human health (Corwin, 2018). This is because of the vast number of waste generated daily globally. According to the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) (2020), an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of waste is generated every single day, containing organic, electronic, and even hazardous waste. Most of this waste, including discarded construction material, is dumped in landfill sites, contributing to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions (Farr-Wharton, Foth, and Choi, 2013). Furthermore, Haas et al. (2015) add that only 28% of the total waste gets recycled, which means that 72% of global waste is discarded with no second use. This is an enormous figure which portrays the enormity of the problem of waste products in the world.
Conceptualizing Waste Management
Waste management, particularly solid waste management, is the practice of collecting, treating, and disposing of waste substances sustainably (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2020). Waste management is a complex task with several steps, which may vary from the use of technology to even hand sorting. The purpose of managing waste is to ensure that waste production causes the least amount of environmental damage and proves sustainable for human health (Brunner and Rechberger, 2015). To achieve this purpose, waste management integrates social, environmental, and economic aspects of waste produced in different sectors. There are several efficient ways in which waste can either be reduced or discarded sustainably. Encyclopedia Britannica (2020) highlights that waste management can be done by reducing, reusing, and recycling, along with composting, fermentation, landfill, incineration, etc.
In terms of the industrial sector, several applications can make them environment-friendly regarding waste generation and discarding. The study by Ravindra, Kaur and Mor. (2015) focused on municipal authorities and suggested a model for improving working conditions to improve waste management. At the same time, another study provided suggestions for the construction industry for waste minimization to decrease the amount of waste generated and consequently improve waste management (Ajayi et al., 2017). On the other hand, Ajayi et al. (2015) also conducted a study on the construction industry and concluded that obstacles are present in waste reduction. The study showed that changes in the design stage and the use of pipe treatment could significantly decrease waste.
Construction Industry of Ghana
The manufacturing industry contributes to the financial productivity of the country (Gelb, Meyer, and Ramachandran, 2014). By providing its country's population with the basic needs required and enhancing their living conditions. The construction industry of Ghana is an example of such a productive industry that aids the country. Ghana has one of the fastest-growing construction industries nationwide, with railway, road, and property projects (Osei-Kyei and Chan, 2017). The demand for the construction industry can be attributed to the growing urban areas of the country and the young population.
Ahadzie (2019) further notes that the construction industry makes up almost 14% of the total GDP, and government spending shows that the industry will grow much more. The reason for such robust growth is the country's political stability and economic growth due to industrialization (Osabutey and Croucher, 2018). This has made Ghana an emerging market in the African continent, and Ghana's construction industry has a major hand in this growth. However, it is also important to note that the lack of government policies and contractor incompetency has resulted in massive environmental damage in this sector (Ahadzie, 2019). Therefore, optimal decision-making is required for Ghana's construction industry that can indicate long-term sustainable growth.
Waste Production in the Constriction Industry of Ghana
The major problem faced by the construction industry is waste production (Bilal et al. 2016; Huang et al. 2018). It has an effect on the working of the industry by the loss of inventory and reduces the time duration of the task to be completed, which results in a loss of money. Waste production occurs due to several practices performed during construction, such as wood, cement, inventory wrappings, and other construction waste. All this waste needs to be transported from the construction area to the legal dump areas for the proper operation of the industry and not cause harm to the environment or the citizens residing close to the industries (Gangolells et al. 2014).
There are various reasons which contribute to waste production (Joshi and Ahmed, 2016); some of them are the poor infrastructure of the industry, which often requires renovation, the labourer's faults during construction, wrong choice of land for the industry's set up, climate changes and no proper setup for the waste disposal. The waste disposed of by the industry gathers at a particular place. It creates an illegal dump which becomes a reason for health-related issues for the citizens and causes damage to the surroundings (Suleman, Darko, and Agyemang-Duah, 2015). This happens because of the egotistical decisions of the contractor, who does not pay for suitable waste disposal to the legal disposal area (Hussin, 2013).
Djokoto, Dadzie, and Ohemeng-Ababio (2014) further discuss the point of waste produced in the construction industry by noting two major resources used by the industry, steel and cement. According to the study, for every tonne of cement produced, at least a tonne of Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere. At the same time, steel production acts as an immensely energy-intensive product. Based on these findings, it can be argued that the construction industry contributes to waste generation and degrades the environment due to the raw products consumed.
Aigbavboa, Ohiomah, and Zwane (2017) believe that construction is a sink for non-renewable resources and a huge source of waste that causes air pollution and water pollution, along with irreversible damage to land management. Hence, construction is a major contributor to pollution levels on a global scale, including in Ghana, which is high in biodiversity and natural resources.
Photocatalytic Treatment of Wastewater
Furthermore, Ametepey and Ansah (2014) conducted a study on the construction industry of Ghana by conducting surveys with workers, project managers, and other key stakeholders. The study identified ten major sources of pollution in Ghana's construction industry, consumption of raw material, noise pollution, encroachment activities, interfering with the local flora/fauna, water pollution, electricity consumption, land pollution, and particulate matter (PM), solid waste and fossil fuel usage.
Among these ten major sources of pollution, mostly are related to solid waste production and its management. Therefore, it is evident that the biggest problem for the construction industry in Ghana is its waste production, in the form of PM or solid waste. It is important to overcome this problem because waste generation in such high amounts in Ghana can result in massive damage to the environment and biodiversity of the country (Cobbinah, Black, and Thwaites, 2015). The study further illustrates that this can affect the country's economy by influencing the rural population's livelihoods.
The significance of the Ghanaian construction industry cannot be underestimated as it is the most productive industry financially in West Africa (Agyekum, 2012).
Regional Issues of Ghana Construction Industry's Waste Production
Ghana is not the only country facing challenges of wastage issues, and it is not the only country needing solutions to minimize waste; however, many countries across the globe are facing the same issue, as explained by Adu-Boahen et al. (2014). The researcher further explains in their study that Zimbabwe and Zambia, under South Africa, comprise a large amount of atrocious waste bags.
Black polythene bags are often considered 'national flowers' in South Africa because black polythene bags can be seen everywhere, including on fences, gutters, and drains. These garbage bags are working as a disease to landscape in South Africa (Adu-Boahen et al., 2014). Since the issue is widespread globally and hence precautions are needed. More research could give supplementary solutions to this ever-emerging problem in the majority of regions and countries extensively. Therefore, the current study is targeting the context of Ghana, and the findings would suggest the best achievable results for the contribution to waste minimization.
Role of Construction Workers in Waste Management
Construction site workers and project managers can play a key role in determining green waste reduction practices to be employed on construction sites. However, Poon et al. (2013) note that workers usually have a negative perception about any changes to their conventional methods of working. Therefore, they are not open to changing their practices to ensure waste management within the construction industry. The study of Zhang, Wu, and Shen (2012) identified workers or labourers on a construction site as barriers to making the construction industry sustainable, as they carry on with uneconomical and environmentally degrading practices.
Regardless of the data that indicates severe losses to biodiversity, water, and soil cleanliness due to construction debris and waste. Although construction workers can play a greater role in ensuring waste reduction by conducting waste sorting practices, reusing material, recycling aggregate, and avoiding waste production at each building stage (Poon et al., 2013). This is an effective layout of probable measures that can be taken by contractors, workers, and other on-site staff to improve waste management. In terms of project managers and other stakeholders that invest in the construction industry, Yuan (2013) highlights that they can also be critical in ensuring waste management.
According to the study, project developers, on-site managers, engineers, and even investors can be vocal about green practices on the site of construction. Based on this, if people in higher roles of executives and managers ensure waste reduction practices, then even lower working staff will comply. Furthermore, Ding et al. (2018) have highlighted the role of designers and engineers in applying measures, policies, and action plans to reduce overall waste created from construction. According to the research, in the planning phase of construction, designers can take an environmentally friendly approach by providing reduction, reuse, and recycling measures throughout the construction process.
Moreover, it is also important to note that most of the workers on construction sites have limited to almost zero knowledge about the issue of waste production from construction projects and their consequent effects on the environment. Yuan (2013) states that project managers usually prioritize time-saving and money-making activities more than waste reduction. Therefore, staff training on waste management is not a common practice. This adds up to the overall problem, as the lack of knowledge in workers leads to hazardous working conditions in which products are consumed uneconomically. Therefore, there is a need to train on-site workers, from labour and managers, contractors, and even key stakeholders, to prioritize waste management.
Challenges to Waste Reduction in the Construction Industry of Ghana
According to a study, in construction projects, on average, waste constitutes 9% of the total products that are used (Hussin, Rahman, and Memon, 2013). This includes wasting cement, steel, plastic, and other materials that can be easily used. This is a relatively high ratio of waste generated and material purchased by weight compared to other major sectors like factories. This high ratio is due to several factors that pose severe challenges to reducing waste and adopting green management practices in the construction industry. The issue of cost is a major challenge to reducing waste, as most building projects surpass their initial cost, and stakeholders avoid added costs of waste management (Hussin, Rahman, and Memon, 2013).
This is an issue of priority for project managers and workers because of a consensual mindset of saving costs from all stages of the building process. In terms of cost, Liew, Sojobi, and Zhang (2017) add that affordability is another obstacle to applying waste management in the construction industry. Most of the solutions for waste management include technological advancement or hiring a waste contractor, which are both costly measures for contractors. Therefore, due to a lack of affordability, construction projects usually do not employ waste management practices.
On the other hand, Alwan, Jones, and Holgate (2017) believe that cost is not a major issue; rather, the underlying culture within the industry of saving cost is the issue. The study argues that waste reduction practices are often considered an unnecessary expanse, which is not needed for the betterment of their practices. This proves as a massive barrier to sustaining the overall industry and changing the outlook of workers towards waste reduction and management.
Waste management is one of the rising issues in the current era (Adu-Boahen, 2014). According to Douti, Abanyie, and Ampofo (2017), one of the major environmental problems, regardless of the context in districts and cities across the globe, is waste disposal (Dahlbo et al. 2015). There are many previous studies (Miezah et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2015; Das and Bhattacharyya, 2015) conducted on this issue, and their findings suggest that in developing countries, much of the solid waste caused is 55%-80% by households, 10%-30% by market areas and the remainder by other institutions (Douti, Abanyie, and Ampofo, 2017). The problems in construction include low quality and high costs; it further includes less productivity and poor coordination.
According to Ayarkwa, Agyekum, and Adinyira (2011), the higher the product's cost, the more poor quality, inefficient, and waste-generated. The study further suggests that reusing the waste materials and using low-wattage technology or recycling the waste materials could be some of the best measures to practice waste reduction measures in Ghana (Ayarkwa, Agyekum, and Adinyira, 2011). According to Douti, Abanyie, and Ampofo (2017), the rate of waste formation in Ghana is 0.47 kg /person /day, which could be around 12,710 in a single day current population of Ghana is 27,043,093. A large amount of generated waste by the residents is scattered on the footpaths, streets, or streams (Douti, Abanyie, and Ampofo, 2017; Owusu-Sekyere, Bagah, and Quansah, 2015).
Construction-Related Policies in Ghana
The industrial sector is well-developed in Ghana, and so it is blessed with abundant natural resources to maintain the sustainable use of its resources. Therefore, an Environmental Action plan was formulated in 1988 (Environmental Protection Council; Ghana) to restore Ghana's environmental conditions. Ghana has implemented legislation for the protection of the natural environment. The formation of laws began in 1974 when the Environmental Protection Council was formed to discuss ecological concerns in Ghana. An Environment Protection Agency Act was approved in the late nineties.
The Environmental Protection Agency works to restore and impose government laws and legislation to improve environmental conditions in the country, focusing on solutions to resolve environmental concerns (Adjarko, Gemadzie, and Agyekum 2016). Implementation of policies was mostly not at the local level but rather in the bigger towns and cities. Following the 1972 Stockholm Convention, the Environmental Protection Council (EPC) was established in 1974 to coordinate all environmental issues in the country (Yeboah & Mensah, 2014). In the year 1976, the Environmental Protection Council Decree 1974 (NRCD239) was amended by the EPC (Amendment) Decree 1976 (Sub-Metropolitan District Council, SMCD 58).
In the year 1985, the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan was prepared over two decades before oil discovery in Ghana in commercial quantities. Again in 1986, the National Plan of Action to Combat Desertification was developed (Yeboah and Mensah, 2014). The Environmental Protection Agency was formed under decree of Environmental Protection Decree. Nathaniel Moore did the initiation of the agency. The task of responding to all environmental concerns was designated to this EPA. All the matters on the governmental level were to be addressed under this legislation (Yeboah and Mensah 2014).
Factors Affecting Construction Waste Management in Ghana
Waste management is the most important concern from an ecological point of view. There is an immense need to eliminate waste to sustain our environment. This can be achieved by implementing reduction, reusing, and recycling practices (Ali, Ali, and Bayyati 2018). Waste hurts the economy and environmental conditions. Reducing construction waste has been an environmental concern (Al-Rifai, J.A.R., and Amoudi 2016). According to a research paper by Jessica McAllister: Ghana focuses on reducing waste by re-using waste. They consider waste itself a resource and even use it to earn money, while most other countries do not follow this practice.
Currently, Ghana is facing troubles due to the mass production of waste from the construction industries, which includes plastic production, to is the greatest environmental issue that is causing harm to sewage systems and also the local animals that feed upon them. Ghana is taking strict actions to reduce the usage of polythene shoppers. Another problem faced by Ghana is the reduced number of waste dumping sites; improper dumping of waste causes health and ecological issues (McAllister 2015).
A major factor affecting waste management is selecting a proper dumping site for the waste to prevent pollution. A survey in Ghana at the Oti, Landfill site showed an increased amount of plastic waste present in the dumping site, and compaction of waste in those sites was being applied (Owusu-Nimo et al., 2019). Implementation of the law is also a very important factor when managing waste is being done. A proper law ensures to secure environmental conditions of the area (Barsalou and Picard 2018).
Solution for Waste Management in the Construction Industry of Ghana
To ensure waste management practices in the construction industry, it is important to consider the role of each stakeholder, from worker to investor, and each phase of building, from planning to discard phase. The study of Udawatta et al. (2015) has highlighted that waste reduction must be implemented by being mindful of waste generation. This can be done by ensuring employee awareness and training so that they can identify wastage and uneconomical usage of material. In terms of employees, it is also necessary to create a sense of teamwork and supervision from managers to ensure that workers comply with green practices and avoid conventional methods that generate waste (Udawatta et al., 2015).
Furthermore, as cultural trends have been identified as the major issue of waste generation in the construction industry, legislation is an effective solution for ensuring acquiescence (Zuo et al., 2015). According to the study, if governments, local, federal, or even global administrative bodies like the UN, set up rules and monitoring bodies, then the entire construction industry can be forced to become sustainable. Government intervention and policy reforms are crucial to aligning construction practices with sustainable architecture principles, fostering environmental responsibility and contributing to the global movement towards more sustainable and eco-friendly construction methodologies.
Owusu-Sekyere, Bagah, and Quansah (2015) further add that for Ghana, the collection of waste is the foremost issue because municipal organizations are often corrupt and incompetent. Therefore, the study provides the solution of importing technology for waste collection or hiring an international company on a regional basis for the collection of waste. Such a measure will result in the competency of the concerned authority and will increase a sense of accountability. Ametepey et al. (2015) further identify that political barriers must be removed from waste management in the construction industry, which will ensure credibility. Moreover, it is also important that the staff is trained and aware of waste management so that a cultural shift can be brought from conventional methods to sustainable practices in construction projects.
Furthermore, the use of adequate raw materials and using substances or products before they expire, along with using a variety of construction equipment, is considered by professionals as the best measures that could contribute to waste reduction in Ghana. These measures are the three most practicable measures which are used in Ghana to minimize wastage (Ayarkwa, Agyekum, and Adinyira, 2011). To overcome waste disposal challenges, the industry needs to accomplish some goals and work on some practices, including buying enough inventory that could be used before expiration, using good quality materials, and maintaining a good relationship with the supplier so that no overloaded material is transported.
A few factors greatly influence the reduction of waste in a commercial project. These include reducing waste, re-using the items again, and recycling. The quantity of waste generation can be reduced by developing strategies to produce a lesser amount of waste. Similarly, certain products can be used again to save resources. At last, recycling products is very necessary, which can be an option for preventing the garbage dumping sites from being full (the United States Environmental Protection Agency).
6th Report of Session 2007–08 Waste Reduction suggested a few options that are effective in waste reduction. One of them is to document the list of different waste production sites. Secondly, such ideas should be imposed by companies that help in sustaining environmental resources. Third federal and governmental agencies and offices should make sure that waste is being dumped properly. Proper laws that focus on environmental conservation should be passed and implemented, and action should be taken against the one who breaches the law. At last, the consumption of resources should be done sustainably (6th Report of Session 2007–08 Waste Reduction Volume I).
Moreover, constructing proper storage rooms for storing raw materials to prevent unintentional product wasting and training employees regarding rightfully using materials are also a part of this counter process. Also, the employees should be aware of the current technologies used to dispose of waste material; workshops should be held every week, providing the employees with the knowledge of recycling waste material and appropriate usage of the equipment. These practices would alter waste disposal activities to a greater extent (Agyekum, 2012).
Here's a segment from the research methodology used in the study.
Research Methodology
Qualitative and quantitative designs are two types of research designs used according to the nature of the study (Mcleod, 2019). The design that has been used in this study is qualitative because it is helpful to explore the challenges faced by the Ghanaian construction industry. Qualitative design is different from quantitative design as it is distinguished by its aims, meaning it is more of an understanding-based design related to cultural and social life (McCusker and Gunaydin, 2015). Interviews were conducted with industrial experts, managerial employees of a construction company in Ghana, contractors and project managers, and on-location workers working on construction projects.
The medium used for interviews included telephone, online video calls (Skype), and face-to-face with different industrial experts to get a quicker response. Each interview was conducted according to their personal preferences and their geographical location. These interviewees helped in providing first-hand knowledge about the reality of waste management in Ghana’s construction industry. The interviews questioned the worker’s role in waste reduction measures to understand the perspective of workers from the construction industry.
According to McCusker and Gunaydin (2015), qualitative methods give findings or results in words rather than numbers. The data in qualitative design is also analyzed at word level or content analysis, unlike the statistical analysis, which is performed in quantitative studies (McCusker and Gunaydin, 2015). The primary purpose of conducting interviews is to get a subjective perception of multiple participants working in the construction industry of Ghana. Moreover, the interview would assist the researcher in presenting the critical arguments of respondents based on practices and challenges associated with waste management in the construction industry of Ghana.
Research Philosophy
The research philosophy for this research was realism. Realism is the sub-branch of epistemology that is pertinent to finding the reality of truth and the existence of objects from the human mind's perspective. Realism is of two types: direct realism and critical realism. Direct realism is related to what our senses perceive concerning the real world, and critical realism is the sensation of images of the real world, not reality. The first aspect depicts the level of research capacity, and the second depicts the importance of levels of study on multiple levels (GuhaThakurta and Chetty, 2015).
Research Approach
Since a detailed observation of the real world has been done for this research to assess the processes and challenges of waste management in the construction industry of Ghana, the researcher has employed the use of the inductive approach for this study. Inductive reasoning is based on experience and what are the lessons learned from them. To reach conclusions, patterns and regularities are observed from experience (Dudovskiy, 2019).
Research Design
For this research, a descriptive research design has been used that enables the researcher to describe a situation that is related to their field of research (Bhat, 2019). Furthermore, descriptive design is aimed at enlightening the researcher on what are the current issues within the area of research and is used to describe the characteristics and behaviour of the proposed population (Dudovskiy, 2019).
Data Collection Method
For this research, the data collection method is employed in primary collection, as it provides first-hand knowledge about the source of information (Kabir, 2016). There are advantages of using primary qualitative analysis in the sense that the researchers collect data from a reliable source. Still, there are also a few disadvantages of using primary qualitative analysis, as in most cases, the use of primary qualitative analysis will not supply answers to the research question laid out by the researcher for their study. It may not contain information specific to answering research questions. Moreover, data collected by primary means is often liable to be unspecific or irrelevant to the aims of the research.
Literature has been reviewed to support the data collected through primary research. However, the variables of the dataset in secondary research have differed from the current research that was carried out (Crossman, 2019). For the collection of primary data, interviews have been conducted by industrial construction experts that would assist in gathering data as direct information. The interviews were conducted according to the participant's personal preferences and geographical location.
However, during the interview phase, the issue of coronavirus was identified as a global pandemic. Therefore, to follow government protocols, conducting face-to-face interviews became unfeasible. To overcome this problem, Skype, phone calls, and other social media websites were used to collect relevant information. To complete interviews over Skype or phone calls, the researcher emailed the study participants and scheduled a time and date that would be feasible for the participants to answer the questions. Furthermore, interviews over the telephone or Skype allowed the researcher to gather concentrated information from the participants and in addition, it was easier to conduct.
Sampling Method, Technique, and Sample Size
The two sampling methods used in this research are probability and non-probability sampling (Taherdoost, 2016). In this study, the sampling method used is non-probability sampling, and the sampling technique is snowball sampling. The data has been collected through group interviews. The objectives of snowball sampling are to identify the interests and delve into the cases of sampled people to investigate the common and similar characteristics (Palinkas et al., 2013). The interviews were conducted with 30 participants, including industry experts, a construction company's managerial employees, contractors and project managers in Ghana, and on-location workers working on construction projects.
As the data collected is primary and qualitative, the analysis method employed is thematic to find the best results.
Data Analysis
To find the challenges and solutions Ghana faces regarding waste management, thematic analysis has been done on the data to identify key patterns. Terry et al. (2017) have identified thematic analysis as an effective data analysis method due to the six-step procedure that helps to find meaningful patterns in the data collected. The six steps are familiarisation with the data of the Ghanaian construction industry, assigning codes to different subsectors for description, identifying themes across different codes, reviewing these themes, defining or naming such themes, and producing a report based on the findings. Moreover, Perera (2017) describes PESTEL analysis as a key factor in exploring the market of industry and external factors that affect a business. Therefore, a PESTEL analysis of the Ghanaian construction industry is also conducted.
Ethical Consideration
All the research done for this proposal has been paraphrased cited, and referenced accordingly. This research aims to be free from plagiarism. Any data that has been requested to be confidential will remain confidential.
Research Limitations
This research is limited to the Ghanaian construction industry and its challenges in reducing waste disposal. This study only focuses on what the construction industry in Ghana is doing in its power to manage waste disposal. Suppose the focus area of this was broader. In that case, more data could be provided, allowing this research to become more critical and would allow for analysis of the challenges faced from a global perspective.
Results and Findings
Here's a section highlighting the study's results and findings.
Introduction
According to Dranke and Hindle (2012), a huge amount of waste is generated from the projects undertaken in the construction industries; this process includes the consumption of raw materials to develop the product and the creation of several discarded items thrown away. Moreover, to treat and dispose of this waste effectively, a sustainable way is utilized to manage the waste through different sorts of technologies or innovative solutions to save the environment from any damage. The 3R process is one of the best solutions for waste management by reducing, reusing, and recycling waste material (Brunner and Rechberger, 2015).
Moreover, the construction industry of Ghana is an example of a productive industry with the best property projects and participates in the economy of the country; therefore, the country needs to consider safe and effective solutions for waste management as there are several environmental issues created by it. The greatest obstacle in waste management is the scarcity of funds from the government and the lack of key personnel in engineering (Osei-Kyei and Chan, 2017).
This chapter of the research is the critical analysis of the research aim and objectives by carrying out a detailed thematic analysis for the primary data collected through interviews with three participants, including industry experts, a managerial employee who are on-location worker of a Construction Company, and project managers and in the commercial projects of construction industry of Ghana.
Thematic Analysis
In the words of Bilal et al. (2016), one of the major issues faced by Ghana's construction industry is waste products from commercial projects, as this impacts the industry's efficient and sustainable working.
Analyzing the Waste Production in Commercial Construction Projects of Ghana
Moreover, as analyzed by Joshi and Ahmed (2016), there are various factors due to which potential processes of waste management are essential to managing the different practices of the construction industry, such as cement, wood, inventory wrappings, and other types of construction waste. This makes the waste disposed of somewhere in a manner that harms the environment, and people to suffer from health issues.
Furthermore, it has also been identified while conducting a literature review that waste generation is caused by the release of harmful gases such as greenhouse gas emissions, causing serious damage to the environment by creating air and water pollution, particularly in Ghana, as the use of natural resources and biodiversity is high in the country (Gangolells et al., 2014). One of the respondents, who is an employee in the Ghana construction industry, was asked about the waste production and management during the commercial projects, and he responded that:
“Being a worker at the site of the commercial project, I have experienced that there is a huge amount of waste generation on a day-to-day basis, and the waste is either organic, solid waste, hazardous waste, or recyclable waste. Different types of waste require different techniques of waste management. Still, we don’t have enough resources and funds from the government to manage the waste efficiently and dispose of the waste. However, with the limited available resources, we try to reuse the waste and manage it through the process of diversion where feasible.”
Another interviewee was asked to highlight the common activities of waste reduction on construction sites, and he stated that:
“Typically, the waste is created due to the demolition of buildings for land excavation, rail, and road maintenance. The waste includes concrete, bricks, metal, plasterboard, timber, soil, and rock, and the use of natural resources for electricity production. This waste generation is due to improper facilities of waste reusability.”
Further, a respondent who is a commercial project manager in the construction industry of Ghana stated the reasons behind waste reduction mentioned in the interview:
“Due to a lack of engineers in Ghana, the construction industry’s municipal waste departments face issues in operating the equipment with the professional advice of sustainable practices such as sitting, construction, design, and maintenance of facilities for waste disposal. Therefore, we are unable to manage the waste production and reduction at construction sites.”
It can be analyzed from the above statements that there are several reasons behind the excessive waste products in the construction industry of Ghana, whether it is the well-educated engineers or the proper provision of resources required to manage the harmful waste from using concrete, bricks, metal, plasterboard, timber due to the demolition and construction of buildings. Similarly, as stated by Aigbavboa, Ohiomah, and Zwane (2017), in Ghana, inefficient waste management is due to the improper infrastructure of the industry, the site workers who are not properly trained and responsible for their tasks, climate changes, and inappropriate setup for the waste disposal, etc.
Assessing the Regional Issues of the Construction Industry’s Waste Production
According to Agyekum (2012), the most productive construction industry in Africa is the Ghanaian construction industry, as the industry plays an important role in increasing the country's economy. The challenges faced by the country are global, as many countries are unable to manage the waste and minimize its harmful effects. For example, Adu-Boahen et al. (2014) stated that in Zambia and Zimbabwe, there is a large amount of waste bags, in South Africa, black polythene bags are seen everywhere in the country. However, Ghana being the construction industry hub, needs to look after potential solutions for waste management with improved precautions and excessive practices to manage the waste. One of the responses from the employees of the construction industry regarding the regional issues is stated below:
“The lack of funds is one issue, but the rising prices of building materials and electricity also pose such challenges that we don’t have enough budgets to manage the waste reduction practices. Therefore, we have to use the manual processes of waste management, which are very time-consuming. Being a developing country, we also lack technological resources, and thus it is another crucial issue for us to manage waste production.”
The above statement explains that Ghana is a developing country, and it is not easy for them to manage the waste through efficient and well-developed practices. Similarly, according to Adipah (2019), there are various regional issues and challenges in the construction industry of Ghana, such as the lack of efforts by the government to secure the health of people and the lack of facilities at the construction sites such as the provision of funds for efficient applied disposal methods designed for the control of leachate flow and methane gas production.
Critically evaluating the Role of Construction Workers and Managers in Waste Management
Construction workers play a prominent role in managing the waste generated during construction work. The research by Ding et al. (2018) in the literature identified that construction workers tend to build storage facilities where the concrete and waste from other substances are stored for disposal. However, another study from the literature indicated that construction workers have negative behaviour towards waste management as they find conventional working practices convenient (Yuan, 2013). However, during one of the interviews with the construction worker, the respondent highlighted that:
“I have been working in construction for about four years. With time, new guidelines are provided to us for using resources optimally to minimize the generation of waste. Occasionally, the environmentalists came for an audit; they primarily criticized the waste generated from construction and, upon leaving, instructed our manager to manage the waste that is mostly on recycling waste”.
The above respondent asserted that environmentalists push the managers to manage the waste, and the manager pushes the construction workers to waste management through recycling. Moreover, the respondent highlighted that materials such as doors and windows in good condition are major resources that can be reused in other construction projects and reduce the overall ratio of waste at construction sites. Furthermore, the research of Zhang Wu and Shen (2012) from the literature highlighted that managers are key players at construction sites in managing waste. A similar author added that managers ensure that new workers are given training on multiple waste management techniques to reduce the waste generated (Zhang, Wu, and Shen 2012). In a similar regard, one of the managers at the construction site elaborated:
“We, managers, are given primal responsibility for controlling the waste of construction. Every manager uses multiple techniques for waste management, such as deconstruction, recycling, and more. In my opinion, I prefer training the workers to generate minimum waste instead of instructing the workers to clean the waste after work. When the workers know how to use the resources optimally, they will automatically control and reuse the waste generated from construction.”
From the above point of view of one manager, it can be evaluated that managers conduct proper training and development sessions for construction workers to control the waste generated from construction and increase their capability of using resources optimally. According to the research of Yuan (2013) in literature, construction workers play a major role in the demolition of the waste generated from construction. Still, it generates pollution and has environmental impacts. Thus, the managers instruct the construction workers on deconstruction rather than demolition of waste. However, when conducting the interview, one of the respondents indicated that
“One of the best things about our construction site is the action plan against waste management that involves various kind of techniques on reducing the waste, recycling the waste and deconstructing the waste, which helps us in playing a vital role in bringing sustainability in the environment through waste management.”
The above response revealed that the action plan guides the managers and construction workers in managing waste and bringing sustainability to the environment.
Critically analyzing the Challenges to Waste Reduction in the Commercial Projects of the Construction Industry of Ghana
According to the study by Hussin, Rahman, and Memon (2013) in literature, commercial construction projects in Ghana generate considerable waste that needs to be controlled. However, to minimize the waste, certain challenges were mentioned in the research by (Liew, Sojobi, and Zhang, 2017). The study of Liew, Sojobi, and Zhang (2017) elaborated that one of the challenges in reducing waste is the cost accounted for by employing waste management techniques. However, during the interview, one of the respondents highlighted:
“During my time here in the construction industry, I realized that the cost associated with managing the waste is a major drawback and demotivating factor that discourages the construction industry from taking steps against reducing the waste. Employees are hardly paid in full for their extra effort in commercial projects. In my opinion, lack of sufficient funds and high cost for waste management are major determinants that raised the challenge for us in reducing the waste.”
The above response of one participant identified that waste management incurs high costs that discourage the construction industry from investing in waste management and taking steps to control the waste. Additionally, the study by Alwan, Jones, and Holgate (2017) in literature considered poor planning to be a major challenge for reducing waste in the construction industry. However, one of the respondents highlighted in the interview that:
“From my experience, I think one of the major challenges for reducing waste in construction projects is the government's lack of interest in waste management. The government of Ghana is more focused on the issue of deprivation of resources rather than waste management. Hence, the construction industry of Ghana is less inclined towards controlling and managing the waste.”
The above response of one construction worker indicated that Ghana's government has not been interested in waste management from construction sites. Instead, the government is focused on the provision of basic resources to deprive the population of Ghana. The construction industry considers it a challenge, as, without government intervention, no construction projects think of controlling the waste. Furthermore, the study by Hussin, Rahman, and Memon, (2013) in literature asserted that affordability had been one of the challenges that discouraged the construction industry from employing waste management techniques. A similar researcher elaborated that most construction projects have to pay the additional cost for gathering the required resources for the building, which does not leave them with any funds for managing the waste from construction (Douti, Abanyie, and Ampofo, 2017). In a similar manager, one of the respondents stated in an interview that:
“According to my opinion, most construction industries spend a great number of funds on arranging the resources of construction. Hence, they cannot afford to spend more on waste management, as the stakeholders do not prefer additional cost after paying more for raw materials and construction equipment, which consequently restricts managers and workers from taking any step against waste management.”
The above response evaluated that affordability is one of the challenges that restrict the construction industry from taking any step against waste management, as the participant highlighted that construction project has to pay extra costs for gathering raw materials and construction equipment, which do not leave them with any funds to spend on waste management.
Identifying the Solutions for Waste Management in the Construction Industry of Ghana
Hussin, Rahman, and Memon (2013), the average amount of waste produced in the construction industry constitutes 9% of all the products used, including waste of cement, steel, plastic, and other materials that can be easily used. Hence the construction industry of Ghana needs to formulate methods or solutions for waste management to avoid damaging the environment and the health and safety of the citizens. As such, the study of Udawatta et al. (2015) has explained that to reduce waste, citizens or individuals must first be aware of the generation of waste. This can be achieved by providing training to individuals and employees of the construction industry about the materials that produce large amounts of waste and damage the environment and methods to inhibit the generation of waste.
Impact of the Latest Technological Advancements in Sustainable Development
Furthermore, Zuo et al. (2015) provide a solution regarding modifying the cultural trend in the construction industry and have suggested introducing legislation that provides an effective strategy to minimize the reduction of waste. Although in Ghana, the municipal organizations are incompetent, global administrative bodies like the UN have set up rules and monitoring bodies over the construction industry of Ghana to ensure they manage the waste produced efficiently (Owusu-Sekyere, Bagah, and Quansah, 2015). Another possible solution for the management of waste in the construction of Ghana is to remove the political barriers to enhance the credibility and management and implement policies that would require organizations to train their staff regarding methods of waste management to ensure a cultural shift from conventional methods to sustainable practices in construction projects. A response obtained from a participant is as follows:
“In our construction industry, we are trying to implement different solutions and strategies to manage waste effectively. We are using raw materials with certain properties that allow us to reduce the waste generated and different technologies to reduce waste further. I think in the long run, we will be able to ensure less waste production and a clean and green environment.”
From the analysis of the above response, it can be noted that the participant explains that within the construction industry of Ghana, organizations and employees are making their best efforts to ensure the reduction of waste produced. They are employing the use of certain raw materials, which allows them to reduce waste. This finding can also be validated by the study of Ayarkwa, Agyekum, and Adinyira (2011), where the authors describe that in Ghana, raw materials are being used before their chemical properties change and ensure to use of all other substances and products whose change in chemical properties would affect the environment.
Further analysis of the response depicts that the construction industry of Ghana is also employing the use of technology to ensure the reduction of waste produced and, as explained in the study of Agyekum (2012), making the employees knowledgeable of waste disposal technologies and techniques and providing them with regular training, the construction industry of Ghana will be able to alter the waste disposal activities extensively.
Discussion
The major source of waste in the construction industry is the release of harmful gases from the use of non-renewable resources such as carbon dioxide, which is released due to steel production and contributes to the production of energy-intensive products (Ametepey and Ansah, 2014).
The Role of Commercial Construction Projects in Ghana in Producing Waste and Measures
Farr-Wharton, Foth, and Choi (2013) further elaborated that the greater part of this waste, including waste of construction material, is dumped on land that contributes 8% to the global discharges of ozone-reduction substances such as CO2 gas. Moreover, Haas et al. (2015) agreed that only 28% of this waste gets reused, which implies that 72% of worldwide waste is disposed of without being processed.
Given these discoveries, it very well may be contended that the construction business adds to waste generation yet additionally corrupts the earth because of the crude items used. Moreover, the study's findings analyzed that the consumption of raw materials in commercial construction projects also contributed to the huge amount of waste generation, which degrades the environment and causes damage in terms of air and water pollution. The findings further discuss the types of waste material that are produced, such as organic waste, solid waste, hazardous waste, or recyclable waste, which contaminate the environment. However, Ahadzie (2019) identified the lack of government policies in Ghana and the incompetence of the contractors as the factors aiding the damage to the environment from this industry.
Whereas Osei-Kyei and Chan (2017) highlighted the scarcity of government funds as the greatest barrier to waste management and the lack of significant filters in the engineering sector. Similarly, the findings also identified the lack of resources and funds from the government as the significant factor behind the lack of management of waste in the construction industry. However, as stated by Cobbinah, Black, and Thwaites (2015), the major contributors to the waste generation of the Ghanaian construction industry are high levels of pollution that are causing irreversible damage and land pollution.
Ametepey and Ansah (2014) led a study on the construction business of Ghana by directing overviews with the labourers, business administrators, and other key partners and distinguished ten significant wellsprings of contamination for Ghana's development industry, utilization of crude material, infringement practices, interfering with the nearby vegetation and fauna, water contamination, power utilization, land contamination, particulate issue (PM), solid waste and non-renewable energy source use.
Similarly, in the words of Adipah (2019), in the Ghanaian construction industry, the major sources of pollution include electricity consumption, encroachment activities, consumption of raw materials, noise pollution, solid waste particulate matter, and the use of fossil fuels. Among these significant sources of contamination are mostly identified waste creation and their administration. In this way, it is apparent that the most concerning issue for the development business in Ghana is its waste creation, such as PM or strong waste. Cobbinah, Black, and Thwaites (2015) stated that it is essential to beat this issue since waste production in such high amounts in Ghana can bring about enormous harm to nature and the biodiversity of the nation; the study further outlines this can influence the economy of the nation by impacting jobs for the rustic populace.
The research findings explored that the major sources of pollution in the construction industries are classified into four categories organic waste, solid waste, hazardous waste, and recyclable waste. The current study has also explored that the most waste is generated from land excavation by demolishing buildings (Adu-Boahen et al., 2014). The management of waste is not as efficient as required for a sustainable environment in Ghana due to a lack of engineers, technological resources, and government funds and initiatives for waste management; therefore, there are no practices of efficient waste reduction activities (Adu-Boahen et al., 2014).
The Role of Construction Workers and Project Managers in Implementing Waste Reduction Practices in Ghana
The study's second objective was to identify the role of construction workers and project managers in implementing waste reduction practices in Ghana. Several studies in the literature, such as Poon et al. (2013), state that construction site workers and project managers can assume a key job in the green waste decrease practices to be utilized in local construction. However, workers typically have a negative perception of any changes in their regular working strategies; because of this, they are not open to changing their practices to guarantee waste management practices in the construction industry.
Furthermore, the study of Zhang, Wu, and Shen (2012) has distinguished specialists or workers on a construction site as boundaries to turn the construction industry reasonable, as they continue with practices that are uneconomical and focus on the information that shows extreme misfortunes to biodiversity, water, and soil quality because of construction trash and waste. Poon et al (2013) argued that even though construction workers can assume a more prominent job in guaranteeing waste decrease by leading proper waste arrangments, reusing material, reusing total and, in general, maintaining a strategic distance from waste creation at each phase of construction in Ghana. Furthermore, the thematic analysis revealed that environmentalist pushes project managers to incorporate recycling techniques in construction so that the construction workers actively participate in reducing waste via recycling.
Explore Soil Remediation Technologies
Additionally, some studies in the literature specified that construction workers do not find waste management practices appropriate and prefer conventional methods of working. The study of Yuan (2013) discusses the significance of construction workers as it states that supervisors, as a rule, organize time-saving and financially beneficial practices more than waste management activities. Subsequently, staff preparation for waste management is not a typical practice which indicates the general issue, as the absence of information in labourers prompts perilous working conditions in which items are used uneconomically.
In this way, there is a need to prepare the local specialists of Ghana, from managers, contractual workers, and even key partners, to organize a waste management strategy. This is supported by the response of participants who, when analyzed, concluded that project managers use different approaches to the issue of waste management in the Ghana construction industry, which varies according to their perception of the issue; they initiate training sessions for construction workers to teach the techniques of using resources optimally and the process of deconstruction which played a prominent role in implementing waste management practices at construction sites of Ghana. It was further identified through the response of a participant.
The Challenges Being Encountered in Waste Reduction in a Commercial Project Within the Ghanaian Construction Industry
The third objective of the study was to highlight the challenges being encountered in waste reduction in a commercial project within the Ghanaian construction industry. The study by Hussin, Rahman, and Memon (2013) stated that development extends to a normal waste of 9% of the absolute items that are utilized, which incorporates wasting concrete, steel, plastic, and different materials that can be effectively utilized. The study of Liew, Sojobi, and Zhang (2017) in terms of cost includes that reasonableness is another factor for applying waste management in the construction industry.
Alwan, Jones, and Holgate (2017) argued that cost is certainly not a significant issue as the basic culture inside the business of sparing expense is the problem. It contends that practices for the decrease in waste are regularly considered as an unnecessary thing which isn't required for the improvement of their practices. Enchill and Mireku (2014) study identified the lack of understanding of the concepts of maintenance of the collection, heat recovery of waste, and transfer system for waste. Hussin, Rahman, and Memon (2013) identified the cost of the practices as the major challenge as the majority of the projects in the Ghana construction industry exceed the initial budget limit set for the project, and the stakeholders are reluctant to add the cost of waste management.
By examining these researches in literature, it has been found that various primal factors raised challenges for the Ghanaian construction industry to implement waste reduction practices. However, the analysis of one of the themes identified that the Ghanaian construction industry has to pay extra costs for generating raw materials and construction equipment, which does not leave them with extra funds to be spent on waste management. Additionally, the study of Ametepey, Aigbavboa, and Ansah (2015), which discusses the lack of awareness of the management practices, the waste workers poor work conditions as the major issue in waste management, concluded the issue of affordability and lack of resources as challenges for controlling and managing the waste generated from commercial projects.
The findings revealed that the lack of government interest in waste management created a challenge for the Ghanaian construction industry in reducing the waste from commercial projects as the government of Ghana focuses more on the lack of resources in the construction industry rather than the use of these resources in the most efficient manner for reducing the waste production which highlights the absence of understanding of the specialists on the governmental level about the relation between the practices creating waste and the resource depreciation.
Chapter Summary
The chapter assessed the waste production and management practices in the commercial projects of the construction industry of Ghana. Five major themes were explored to analyze the research objectives and present valuable results. Waste production in the Ghanaian construction industry is in excessive amounts as several projects are carried out in the country necessary for adding value to the country’s GDP. However, there are few practices, such as reusability of raw materials, practised to manage waste. However, it is still causing air, water, and land pollution due to using hazardous materials and non-renewable energy sources.
Further, being a developing country, the major regional issues are a lack of technological resources and government funds. The current chapter found that project managers actively implement waste reduction practices in the Ghanaian construction industry by incorporating training and development sessions for construction workers to improve their recycling and deconstructing skills. Additionally, the environmentalist in Ghana insists that managers implement waste management practices in commercial projects by providing instruction on using resources optimally to generate minimum waste. Furthermore, the findings revealed that lack of government interest, high cost, and affordability are key determinants that raised the challenges for construction workers in incorporating waste management techniques during commercial projects.
Summary of Findings
The study identifies the challenges that are responsible for encouraging the reduction of waste in commercial projects within the construction industry of Ghana. Furthermore, the study gathered responses through interviews and assessed the findings emerging from the themes of the interviews. Therefore, the study's findings suggest that construction workers are responsible for performing a noticeable role in the management of waste created during construction. Similarly, the study also identifies that construction workers are often responsible for building storage facilities where waste is stored for disposal.
Similarly, the findings indicate that construction workers often perceive waste management practices negatively because they prefer to work with conventional working methods more conveniently. Therefore, according to the findings of the study, environmentalists push the managers to manage the waste, and the manager pushes the construction workers to waste management through recycling. The research also highlights that the materials of doors and windows are the major resources that are reused in construction projects resulting in the reduction of waste at the site of construction. Similarly, the managers also ensure that new workers are given training on multiple waste management techniques for waste reduction. Therefore, the managers instruct the construction workers on deconstruction rather than demolition of waste.
The findings of the study mention that the construction of commercial projects in Ghana requires extensive control of waste generated due to a lack of waste management practices. Therefore, the study also evaluates the challenges and discusses that the major challenge associated with waste management is the cost required for the implementation of waste management techniques. Therefore, the findings of this study explore the idea that waste management incurs a high cost that discourages the construction industry from investing in waste management and taking steps to control the waste.
The responses in the analysis also discuss that the government of Ghana does not take an interest in managing waste present at the construction sites. Furthermore, the construction projects also have to pay extra costs to obtain raw materials and equipment, creating a lack of funding to take initiatives in waste management. The study also mentions that the Ghanaian construction industry is making extensive efforts to ensure the reduction of waste by employing the use of raw materials and technology.
Conclusion
The study aims to identify the challenges that encourage activities of waste reduction in the commercial projects of the construction industry of Ghana. Therefore, the study focuses on determining the role of commercial construction projects in Ghana that produce waste and the measures that are adopted to curb it. Therefore, the study provides relevant recommendations to effectively assess waste reduction in commercial projects within the industry in Ghana. The study also evaluates the role of construction workers and project managers in the implementation of waste reduction practices for the construction of commercial projects. The study concludes that the role of construction workers and project managers is essential in the practices of green waste reduction and its implementation on construction sites.
Moreover, the workers also often perceive any changes affecting their conventional working methods negatively. The study further identifies that the workers and labourers at the site of construction have the role of acting as a barrier that limits sustainability in the construction industry because of their uneconomic and environmentally damaging practices. However, the study also concludes that the workers often perform a greater role in ensuring waste reduction through adopting practices associated with waste sorting, recycling material and aggregate, and avoiding waste production at different stages of building.
The role of project managers is also considered critical in ensuring waste management activities. Therefore, the study identifies that the role of project managers is important because they are often about green practices on construction sites. Similarly, project managers are considered important because lower staff compliance is based on higher executives' actions. The study also identifies the challenges that are encountered in the waste reduction of commercial projects in the construction industry of Ghana. Therefore, the study identifies major challenges in the construction industry of Ghana, which is associated with a high ratio of generated waste as compared to different sectors such as factories.
Similarly, the high ratio in the creation of waste is due to the challenges of cost. According to the study's findings, the cost challenge is a major issue for waste reduction. It is considered the top priority of project managers and workers due to the cost-saving in the stages of building processes. Similarly, the challenge of affordability is also a major issue that harms the implementation of waste management practices in Ghana's construction industry. Therefore, the study concludes that the solutions for waste management are expensive, which creates a lack of affordability resulting in decreased waste management practices.
Recommendations
Commercial construction projects and buildings are known for generating significant amounts of waste and materials. Therefore, the stakeholders, project managers, owners, and stakeholders can adopt various practices to improve the management of waste at construction sites, minimize costs, and increase sustainability. Similarly, successful construction operations often seek ways to reduce costs and enhance functional efficiencies. Therefore, commercial projects can achieve sustainability by controlling and regulating the costs of building and taking effective steps to create a sustainable business.
- Commercial projects should contain designs at the project's initial stages that result in less waste. Moreover, rework caused due to poor workmanship and errors should be minimized.
- It is recommended that standard sizes and quantities of materials should be used to plan for the reduction of offcuts. Furthermore, excess use and ordering of materials should be limited.
- Deliveries should be arranged to match the work stages, and storage of materials on-site should be avoided. Furthermore, the safety of the storage areas is necessary, and it is recommended that the areas are secure, safe, and waterproof.
- It is recommended that instead of using new materials, off-cuts should be collected and used. Furthermore, coordination of trade is essential for waste management to ensure that the leftover materials can be recycled. Similarly, temporary materials should be fixed so that they can be reused under suitable settings. The unused materials on the site should also be returned, sold, or donated.
- Contacting waste contractors can also enable waste management and encourage recycling.
- Waste assessment practices should be adopted to gain information regarding waste reduction activities. Therefore, effective education and communication should be developed among the workers to ensure that waste reduction policies are implemented.
Future Implications
This research can be considered important for construction companies in Ghana and different parts of the world because the study offers a detailed and profound understanding of the construction industry and waste reduction challenges faced in commercial projects. Furthermore, this study will also effectively provide prospects for multiple construction companies to create waste management awareness and improve the standards of sustainability in the construction industry. Stakeholders and investors can also attain valuable information through this research as it will allow them to become vocal regarding the important waste management practices in the construction sector.
Moreover, the study also effectively discusses the role of workers and project managers in the implementation of waste reduction practices for the construction of commercial projects, which the senior executives can identify to engage with the matter of waste management and ensure that sustainable practices are adopted. Similarly, local authorities can properly assess the challenges encountered in Ghana's construction industry associated with waste reduction to develop appropriate plans that effectively minimize the challenges in the Ghanaian construction industry and ensure sustainability.
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Appendix A: Interview Questions
What is your role in working in the construction industry?
How long have you been working in the industry?
Did your role in the construction industry include handling raw materials or discarding waste?
Do you consider the Ghanaian construction industry to have a waste management issue?
If yes, what are the specific issues you would like to highlight?
Do you experience any waste reduction activities on the construction sites?
Have you personally ever been a part of waste management or reduction practices on construction sites?
Do you know of any policy or current waste management practices?
As a construction worker/project manager, do you consider green initiatives to be better or worse than conventional methods employed during construction?
What is the biggest challenge to sustainability in waste management practices of the Ghana construction industry?
What would you suggest as a solution to managing the issue of waste produced in the construction industry of Ghana?
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