Cross-regional mobility of construction and demolition waste in Australia: An exploratory study

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste has become one of the most significant waste streams and many countries are seeking to promote the waste recycling rate. Due to heavyweight, low unit economic value, and legislation requirements, C&D waste is normally managed locally. According to the National Waste Reports in Australia, over the past few years some C&D waste materials have been transported from the originally generated region to other regions for further treatment. The cross-regional mobility of C&D waste will affect the quantity of waste in the regional waste management system, which brings environmental, economic and social impacts on the system. By employing methods of site surveys, expert interviews, expert seminars and desktop surveys, this study aims to understand the C&D waste treatment and management particularly the cross-regional mobility of the waste in Australia. Firstly, the compositions and generation of C&D waste in Australia are investigated while strategies are provided for managing the waste. Secondly, the flows of C&D waste in the country are mapped, among which the waste cross-regional mobility map in Australia reveals significant information such as the states and territories involving in the waste cross-regional mobility, the waste mobility routes, and transported waste materials. Accordingly, the characteristics of C&D waste in Australia are discussed. Similarly, the causes and impacts of cross-regional mobility of C&D waste are analysed. The findings of the study help gain insights of C&D waste management in Australia, which is valuable for other countries or regions to improve their waste management performance. In addition, the study would also enrich existing C&D waste management theory by adding the cross-regional mobility issues.