Strategies to minimise construction waste: a contractor’s perspective

The generation of construction waste has become a pressing issue in Malaysia, making waste reduction crucial due to its environmental and financial impacts. This research aims to identify the factors that hinder effective construction waste management and to propose strategies to improve waste management practices in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. The study focused on CIDB-registered contractors working on residential and commercial projects. Six respondents from various projects were selected for this qualitative study, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. The research identified several key factors contributing to poor construction waste management, including inefficient material management, inadequate planning, low awareness, insufficient training, and weak communication among project stakeholders. Based on these findings, the study recommends strategies that contractors can adopt to minimise construction waste. These strategies include optimising material usage, adopting lean construction practices, using prefabrication and modular construction techniques, implementing waste segregation and recycling, enhancing project planning and coordination, and fostering a culture of waste reduction within the organisation. Although contractors recognise the importance of effective waste management, the study highlights a need for government support to help them implement these strategies.