C & D WASTE MANAGEMENT USING LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT TOOL - AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Solid waste management is a basic and integral part of human living. All over the globe 1.3 billion tons per year
municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated which is expected to increase up to 2.2 billion tons per year by 2025, against
which 0.0365 billion tons per year is generated by India alone. Solid waste is managed by local bodies of countries or
states involving steps of collection, processing, transportation, recycling and disposal of solid waste. However, in most of
the countries, factors such as lack of infrastructure, financial support and technology which are not up to the required
level leading to inefficient waste management services. Further, since construction is one of the basic need for
development and GDP growth for any country, thus government policies are promoting rapid construction growth. This
rapid construction growth with the lack of infrastructure for waste handling is contributing abnormally for waste
generation during any construction, maintenance and demolition phases of a building. This study reviewed and applied
the concept life cycle assessment (LCA) which is a parameter of green rating tool and which can be followed for a
building by any government and private body. Benefits of implementing the concept life cycle assessment can then be
compared with conventionally constructed buildings. The results can be used for policy decisions as well as strategic
decisions on waste management systems during building planning phase only which will not only help in reducing the
waste generation by reusing but also save cost and time for disposal activities. It has been observed that by simply
adopting the steel material in place of concrete for building frame construction, the reduction in the overall total
municipal solid waste can be made by 3.96 percent