Sustainable excavation waste Management on construction sites; case of Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

This project looked into the management of excavated waste within the construction industry specifically targeting Nairobi, Kenya. The aim was to investigate sustainable excavation waste management practices in construction sites. The specific objectives looked into the identification and sustainability of waste management techniques applied and the challenges faced in managing excavation waste. The study is important to drive towards a sustainable construction industry as excavation waste produced by the sector contributes to the waste stream and affects the environment. The research design applied was a case study research. The target population were NCA 1 contractors’ sites with commercial building projects commissioned during the period 2011-2016. A random selection of the registered NCA 1 building contractors was done and 45 questionnaires were sent out to NCA 1 contractors’ sites. The three part Questionnaire was used as the main instruments of data collection in the study. Data was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Findings indicated that the main type of waste was uncontaminated soil and sand with the volumes majorly determined by the excavation method used. The contractors used site waste management plans to manage excavation waste and were aware of the environmental and economic benefits of the same. The type of waste, the extent and cost were the major challenges faced in implementation of sustainable techniques. The study recommends proper recording of excavation waste activities and construction companies be encouraged to reuse the waste for a sustainable industry.