Differential management of waste by construction sectors: a case study in Michigan, USA

Waste is a great problem in the world of construction. If dealt with appropriately, there can be many benefits, including lower overall cost, faster production, a higher quality and more sustainable buildings. There are many solutions available for minimizing waste during construction. However, a great amount of waste still exists, whether in residential, commercial, industrial, infrastructural or other constructions. The purpose of this investigation is to ascertain key sources of waste, and whether generation varies with the type and size of the constructors. A sample of 30 general contractors was studied, and several null hypotheses on waste generation and minimization differences among sectors were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis H-test. Although subtle shifts were observed in the aspects of waste behaviour that seemed predicated on construction sectors and capital base, to some extent the proposition that the construction type and size can influence waste generation and minimization was validated. Based on this study, some solutions are provided as viable avenues to managing and minimizing construction waste across sectors.