Waste reduction strategies on construction projects: the case of Accra metropolis
Loading...
Date
November, 2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
According to Ghana Statistics Service (GSS), the Ghanaian construction industry has contributed significantly to the gross domestic product of the country with it being the highest contributor in 2011 and therefore it can be said that the country’s construction industry is directly linked to our economy. Unfortunately, the local contractors cannot compete effectively with foreign operatives due to the lack or inadequacies of vital capabilities like capital, plants and managerial know-how which are required for reduction of wastage (effective use of materials, labour and plant). In view of the above, this project was conducted with the main aim of exploring strategies adopted by construction firms in reducing waste generation on construction sites within the Accra metropolis. Three (3) distinct but related objectives were set in order to achieve this aim which where to identify the causes of material wastage on construction sites; to identify materials predominantly wasted on construction sites; and to identify strategic ways to reduce the generation of excessive waste on construction sites in the Accra metropolis. In achieving these objectives, pre-existing theories were used as a means of building an evidence of the importance of the construction industry on the economy and challenges it faces with regards to construction waste and the distribution of questionnaires. The Kish formulae was used to calculate the sample size of fifty-six (56) from a population of one hundred and thirty-two (132) construction firms in the Accra metropolis. Fifty-Six (56) questionnaires were distributed and fifty (50) were retrieved representing a response rate of 89.29%. The data was analyzed using the Relative Importance Index formulae and mean score ranking method. The results demonstrated that, poor site management is a major cause of waste generation on-site. Also, the results demonstrated that concrete is the most wasted construction material on-site. Lastly, it was identified that, proper supervision of works on site is the best strategy to adopt in order to reduce waste generation on site. With regards to the findings, it was recommended that, there should be proper supervision on construction sites to expedite operatives work execution on construction site. Also, the project manager should pay more attention in planning his/her construction process so as to reduce or eliminate any wasteful activity on-site and bidders should submit their methods of minimizing waste as part of bid requirements and any bidder who fails to do so can be deemed not responsive.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Building Technology, College of Art and Built Environment in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science,