A GIS-based framework for managing construction and demolition waste : the case of Syria -

Abstract

The substantial amount of concrete waste generated from regular (non-emergency) construction and demolition works as well as emergency states such as wars and natural disasters poses a great threat to the environment in terms of increase in quarrying demand and diminishing landfilling space. Proper management and recycling of construction and demolition waste (CDW) helps alleviate those problems. GIS allows policy makers to spatially locate sources of waste as well as to analyze suitable lands for the construction of recycling facilities (RFs) using a multi-criteria evaluation process (MCE). The proposed framework in this study involves estimating CDW quantities, building a GIS model for RF siting, and carrying out an economic assessment. The framework is applied on the case of Syria to account for the concrete waste generated on a regular basis and the waste as a result of the ongoing war. The GIS model considers environmental and transportation objectives including slope, a vegetation index, a snow index, buffer distances to water bodies, green areas, urban areas, proximity to restricted roads and proximity to allowable roads. The results show that the percent of highly suitable land varies from 19 to 73 percent depending on the level of importance allocated for each of these factors. The economic assessment considers both capital and operational costs per RF module as well as different combinations for the revenues attainable from the recycled product price and the set gate fee.