Off-site sorting of construction waste: What can we learn from Hong Kong?

To tackle the large amount of solid waste generated from construction activities, Hong Kong has issued a series of construction waste management policies in the last twenty years. One of the most significant policies is the launch of an off-site construction waste sorting (CWS) program. Since its implementation in 2006, the off-site CWS program has contributed greatly to construction waste minimization by hitherto separating 5.11 million tons of construction waste in total. This paper aims at carrying out a thorough investigation into the off-site CWS program in Hong Kong. Both successful experience and existent shortcomings in relation to the CWS program are discussed in detail. Data on which the analysis and discussions are based are mainly obtained from two channels. One is from literature review and examination on government regulations and statistics, while the other is from two empirical case studies carried out at the Tuen Mun construction waste sorting facility. The findings reveal that the success of the off-site CWS program is mainly attributed to 'sustaining policy support from the Hong Kong government', 'good policy execution', 'encouraging off-site CWS through higher disposal charges' and 'implementation of the trip-ticket system'. Suggestions for further enhancing the effectiveness of the off-site CWS program are also proposed. The study is not only useful for decision makers to further improve the overall effectiveness of this practice, but also provides valuable references for other countries or regions in minimizing construction waste through off-site waste sorting program. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.