1 Introduction

1.1 Demolition and Demolition Process in Construction Background

Demolition is the process of deconstructing the building, resulting in waste removal, processing, and disposal, increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Chemical reactions are the primary cause (UCL Engineering, n.d.). Harrabin [1] explained that 40,000 metric tons of CO2 are from the emissions of demolition-reconstruction of buildings. This is because reconstruction necessitates using raw materials and energy, amplifying the amount of embodied carbon, which is the total CO2 emissions from construction and manufacturing.

The life cycle of demolished materials is crucial in analyzing CO2 emissions. Notably, the treatment stage comprises 81% of carbon emission, while only 1% is contributed by the transportation stage.[2]

Figure 1. Reducing Carbon, A Builder’s Guide to Carbon-Neutral Building Practices

Savage, Craig. Reducing Carbon | JLC Online. 17 Nov. 2022. Reducing Carbon A Builder’s Guide to Carbon-Neutral Building Practices, The Journal of Light Construction, https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/reducing-carbon_o. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023

Carbon emissions have been implicated in building demolition projects, and the most significant contributors include concrete, brick, wood, and glass. Around 70% of demolition waste in China is from construction and demolition waste (CDW) [3,4]. This country is the most significant contributor to CDW. It is then followed by Europe, with 870 million t, and the United States, with 485 million t.[5]

China:

In a comprehensive review of carbon emissions by Liu et al. [3], the researchers recommended that the following should be considered: technological issues, regional disparities, and temporal differences. The research primarily centers in Xiancun, Guangzhou. The study segregates activities into four distinct sectors: Demolition, transportation, landfill management, and recycling facilities, in alignment with the various phases comprising the life cycle of demolition waste. The study revealed that the activities of each of these sectors have significant carbon emissions.

Europe:

Various countries in Europe contributed to the increased carbon footprint. In Britain in 2021, academic institutions studied the carbon emissions of the planned demolitions in various areas. An example is Marks & Spencer's demolition plan for its 90-year-old flagship store on Oxford Street. Its demolition and replacement would have a vast amount of carbon emissions, necessitating the planting of 2.4 million trees to recuperate. Moreover, six demolished buildings in London's Fleet Street estimated 19,000 tons of CO2. Also, in Derby, Assembly Room demolition can increase carbon emissions equivalent to driving around the world 738 times.[6]

United States:

An example of an area in the United States is Portland. Here, the government tracked the number of demolition permits issued between 2016 and 2020 for residential areas. The total number is 1,160, but 337 homes were only deconstructed instead of demolished. Based on these numbers, CO2 emissions were equivalent to burning 36 251 504 gallons of gasoline or the yearly emissions of 76 480 cars. Simultaneously, within the same timeframe, the city also issued 376 commercial space demolition permits, contributing to 182,031,752 gallons of gas or annual emissions from 384,033 cars.[7]

Figure 2. Flow of Waste from Construction, Renovation, and Demolition in a Landfill Process

Figure 2 shows the flow of waste from construction, renovation, and demolition in a landfill process. Contemporary sustainability construction is now beneficial to the earth and a resourceful form of economic management in handling construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) waste from the building, repairing, and demolition. In disposal sites, CRD trash softly uses sustainable methods. Throwing out garbage is not just about it; eco-friendly actions should go full circle [8]. Concentrating on reducing wastage, recycling, and reusing as many materials as possible is essential. This way, there can be an appreciably reduced environmental impact within the sector with minimal effect on resources and less need for dumps.

Authorities prefer putting construction and demolition waste into dumps with designated areas for cement, wood, or glass. Although not harmful, this volume of construction and demolition debris should be discouraged since it is terrible for the environment. These dumps are significant places where all the materials produced during building, repair, and demolition are kept [9]. The issue continues beyond controlling the volume to minimizing the damage they may cause to the earth. Due to the ever-increasing volume of waste on disposal sites meant for construction and demolition materials, it is now critical that professionals develop new approaches to responsible disposal.

As shown in the image, construction, renovation, and demolition flow illustrates how vital classification is for managing garbage well. Recycling, reusing, and throwing away things are the three main parts of a sustainable method. People send items that industries can use again to scrap markets so they can be repurposed and last longer. This action results in a closed-loop system that minimizes waste disposal. However, sustainable building techniques go beyond the "keep-trash-out-of-the dump" as they need a significant change in construction [10]. Experts can achieve this by applying new modes, such as modular buildings whose production and assembly take place away from the site, minimizing site wastage.

Similarly, recycling such materials decreases dependency on new materials. Using modern recycling methods, such as producing concrete with recovered materials, reduces the harm caused to the planet by the construction industry [8]. Using these all-around environmental strategies that combine eco-friendly techniques reduces dump congestion. In addition, it promotes resource economics, thus lowering the building industry's environmental impacts. These new techniques are vital when transforming building methods to be environmentally or earth-friendly.

1.2 Aim

To analyze and develop advanced management techniques in demolition, renovation and new construction to improve material recycling efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

1.3 Objectives

The objectives of this research include:

1 To analyze the carbon emissions and building material recycling efficiency issues from building demolition and renovation construction.

2 To compare data and different methods of reducing carbon emissions in buildings by recycling building materials during building demolition and renovation projects

3 To recommend advantageous practices for improving the recycling efficiency of building materials in building demolition and renovation construction.

1.4 Key Questions

1. What are the carbon emissions and building material recycling issues from building demolition and renovation?

2. How to reduce carbon emissions in buildings by recycling building materials during building demolition and renovation projects?

3. How to improve the recycling efficiency of building materials in building demolition and renovation projects?

2 Literature Review

2.0 Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Recycling and Reusing Building Materials

Recycling is a form of demolition waste management. This approach creates materials that can be substituted for raw materials for reuse. It assumes a pivotal role in the abatement of CO2 emissions during the phases of demolition and renovation. Many constructions and demolition (C&D) materials, encompassing asphalt, concrete, wood, and metals, can be subject to efficacious recycling, attenuating the imperative for fresh resource extraction and manufacturing. This dual benefit conserves valuable resources and reduces carbon emissions intrinsically linked to producing virgin materials. [11]

Augustine et al [2] analysed the material that had the most significant impact on recycling, and they found that steel. However, it only represents around 10% of the total mass of generated waste materials, which can reduce carbon emissions by more than 90%, indicating that metal recycling should be prioritized.

In connection with this, via the life cycle assessment, Liu et al. [3] dwelled on the impact of landfill use, recycled aggregates, and recycled powder on carbon emissions. Based on their data, recycled aggregates reduced 6.790 × 108 kg CO2 eq. Compared to landfills, while recycled powder reduced 6.790 × 108 kg CO2 eq. compared to recycled aggregates.

Sustainability is the cornerstone of recycling. Notably, retrofitting endeavors to render extant structures more sustainable, coupled with the systematic infusion of sustainability considerations throughout the life cycle of nascent constructions, stand as pivotal strategies. Concomitantly, harnessing incentives, encompassing carbon budget adherence and climate risk contemplation, to engender a predilection for recycled materials emerges as an instrumental driver, concurrently fostering ecologically conscious projects with a potential for positive societal impact.[12]

Furthermore, this approach retains the integrity of architectural aesthetics and historical import in the case of edifices earmarked for preservation or restoration. By abating the exigency for pristine materials, the judicious act of recycling and repurposing materials resonates cogently in the diminishment of embodied carbon emissions, a conspicuous constituent of the construction industry's carbon profile.[13]

Process of Improving Recycling Efficiency

Sustainable development relies on the construction industry for the achievement of its goals. First, the examination of the current of material wastes and how they are being handled in construction is of utmost importance. It requires a thorough investigation of the demolition process and the use of its generated waste. The contemporary status of material recycling in these processes exhibits regional variations; however, on a global scale, there is an increasing acknowledgment of the ecological and economic manifold benefits associated with adopting sustainable practices. A growing number of construction and demolition ventures now incorporate predefined objectives about material recovery, focusing on salvaging valuable components such as concrete and timber. Moreover, the recycling industry has transformed to accommodate the changing landscape, offering specialized services to process and reconstitute materials reclaimed from construction and demolition sites efficiently. The implementation of advanced sorting technologies and the establishment of dedicated recycling facilities have markedly elevated the efficacy of material retrieval processes from these sites. [3,14,15]

Second, sustainable material engineering, use of waste materials, quality of use, and life cycle management are at the heart of the topic. For example, circular economy aids in recycling efficiency by exiting the “take, make, waste” model. This paradigm embraces sustainable design principles combined with recycling system incentives, which, in turn, mitigate waste proliferation and carbon emissions. The materials' life cycle is considered, and the final recycled materials are used for renovation or other reconstructions.[12]

The multifaceted approach acknowledges incentive-based, policy, and investment aspects for low carbon guide creation/demolition agencies. This is an approach that pushes for a comprehensive transformation of the business by adopting a paradigm shift toward more significant environmental commitment as a norm. It seeks to instill a holistic and transformative technique that encourages and mandates sustainable practices, using a paradigm shift closer to heightened environmental obligation in the enterprise.

Historically, conventional methodologies in construction and demolition followed linear trajectories, resulting in substantial waste generation and limited material retrieval. However, contemporary initiatives are grounded in the principles of the circular economy, wherein materials are judiciously reutilized, repurposed, or subjected to recycling processes, thereby mitigating resource depletion and curtailing the accumulation of waste.[9]

Role of BIM in building demolition/renovation and new construction projects

The prevailing approach to material recycling within building renovations and construction and demolition procedures increasingly aligns with the principles underpinning the circular economy. As an indispensable tool, BIM software plays an instrumental role in project management, enabling sustainability objectives to be met and waste generation to be minimized. With ongoing innovation and collaborative efforts, the construction industry is making substantial advances toward a more sustainable, resource-conscious future (NBS).

BIM, a sophisticated digital framework, facilitates these transformative endeavors. The contemporary landscape of material recycling within building renovation, construction, and demolition procedures is characterized by a burgeoning integration of sustainability practices [16]. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a pivotal tool in orchestrating these developments. It confers project stakeholders the capacity to meticulously strategize, design, and execute renovation and demolition endeavors with high precision. By seamlessly integrating BIM into their operations, stakeholders can critically evaluate the potential for reusing extant structures, appraise the viability of material recycling, and systematically minimize waste generation during the deconstruction and reconstruction phases.[17]

BIM software assumes a pivotal role in mitigating carbon emissions within construction endeavors. Its utility lies in facilitating comprehensive digital planning, design, and project management, enabling the precise allocation of resources, judicious material utilization, and optimizing logistical operations. BIM empowers stakeholders with the data-driven insights necessary for informed decision-making that places a premium on sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and construction methodologies. The result is a discernible reduction in carbon footprints across the entire project lifecycle, aided by the software's data-rich environment, which supports precise energy simulations and continuous performance monitoring. Consequently, BIM stands as an indispensable instrument for reducing carbon emissions in building demolitions, renovations, and novel construction undertakings. [18,19]

Integration of BIM to Planning and Designing Phases

Integrating construction software, specifically BIM, into the initial planning and design phases of demolition, renovation, or new construction projects is a strategic imperative. It entails a structured approach that commences with precisely defining project objectives. Subsequently, a cross-functional team is assembled, encompassing diverse expertise to ensure a holistic perspective. The comprehensive collection of pertinent data is the bedrock, facilitating the development of an intricate 3D model, which forms the foundation for design visualization and rigorous sustainability analysis. Beyond design, BIM is a cost estimation tool, optimizing construction sequencing and ensuring alignment with regulatory compliance. Moreover, BIM offers invaluable support for clash detection, expedites documentation generation, and enhances project communication. Beyond these advantages, BIM plays a pivotal role in construction monitoring and facilities management, fostering continuous improvement through feedback aggregation and skill enhancement initiatives. BIM represents a strategic lever for enhancing project efficiency, sustainability, and overall success.

3 Results and Discussion

Table 1. SWOT Analysis for Demolition, Renovation, and Construction to Improve Building Material Recycling Efficiency and Reduce Carbon Emissions

Through this SWOT analysis, the in-depth presentation provides a better understanding of the benefits, drawbacks, opportunities, and threats associated with efforts to increase building materials recycling efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

3.1 Analyzing the improving building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions

Data processing and coordination to improve material recycling efficiency

Several improving building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions challenges come to the fore. Among these challenges is the intricate task of harmonizing a mosaic of diverse data sources. These sources encompass materials databases, recycling facility information, and project-specific data, all necessitating seamless integration into the unified holistic framework. The attainment of a unified, precise dataset assumes paramount importance in the effective planning and execution of material recycling strategies.

The sphere of compatibility and interoperability with disparate software, tools, application, and recycling systems poses a formidable challenge. Diverse stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, and recycling facilities, often use different software platforms, engendering complexities in data interchange and collaborative endeavors. Seamlessly incorporating these various systems and facilitating fluid data sharing are imperative prerequisites for the triumph of recycling initiatives.

Maintaining data quality and precision concerning recycled materials constitutes an essential concern. Only complete or correct data can precipitate misguided judgments regarding recycling alternatives and impede realizing sustainability objectives. Upholding data integrity and precision represents an unceasing endeavor that warrants the implementation of rigorous data management protocols.

Furthermore, identifying and diligently tracking recyclable materials within the BIM model is a significant conundrum. The imperative lies in ensuring vigilant monitoring of materials throughout the project's lifecycle. Meticulous tracking is pivotal for gauging the availability of recyclable materials and for rendering informed determinations regarding their potential for reuse or recycling. The orchestration of a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis for material recycling within the purview of BIM proves to be intricate. Balancing the initial expenditure associated with recycling processes against the long-term sustainability gains requires deploying sophisticated financial modeling and data analysis. The attainment of accurate cost-benefit assessments assumes a pivotal role in facilitating informed decisions concerning recycling strategies.

Cost Disparities in Obtaining Recyclable Materials

A thorough examination of existing data on the costs associated with acquiring recyclable building materials via advanced recycling and dismantling technology, as opposed to the costs associated with transporting waste to landfills, provides valuable insights into sustainable construction practices’ economic Efficient Matching of Technical Methods and Landfill Solutions

Here are strategies to match technical approaches with landfill solutions efficiently. It requires first to examine and classify the waste materials to determine which are recyclable. Next is to select the most appropriate demolition and renovation approach based on the waste items. Afterward, it requires segregate the waste materials on the spot and seek partnerships with recycling facilities to help it. These plans can become more efficient if properly and regularly monitored.

Separating building parts is based on recycling and dismantling technologies at the core. The second method aims to recover items that could be remanufactured or recycled at the cost of labor, technology, and transportation to recycling centers. Costs are involved during the early stages of getting recycled building materials through modern technology—these result from using machines and professional staff for demolition and grading. However, increasing innovations in technologies, as well as growing reclaimed product markets, eventually reduce such costs. However, they add various charges, such as collecting and transporting the waste into landfills. On such impacts, there will be road truck charges and other costs such as land tipping, amongst others.

On the other hand, the traditional recycling alternative involves costs related to garbage collection, transportation, and landfill fees incurred when transporting building waste to landfills. These charges include expenses for waste hauling trucks, landfill tipping fees, and potential costs resulting from impacts. Although the initial cost of landfill disposal may appear lower than recycling methods, these estimates may only partially encompass the long-term environmental and social costs associated with disposal. Such costs include pollution, habitat degradation, and damage to landfill sites. Environmental considerations play a role in this study. Recycling and separation technologies do not reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Developing efficient methods to recycle building materials requires recognizing the complexity and diversity that characterize urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Given the uniqueness of such landscapes, only specialized approaches that cater to the distinctive features and challenges of every environment should be used.

The construction of such recycling facilities in major cities with high development rates is vital. Nonetheless, these measures will be more effective if they are supported by a system that offers real rewards for developers. Tax breaks need to be tailored towards local economic peculiarity in addition to being applied generally. It allows for incentive structures tailored to resonate with the development, leading to the broad adoption of sustainable building methods in metropolitan areas worldwide. However, such an approach becomes grassroots-oriented for smaller locales and villages. In these settings, centralized facilities are less likely to work; therefore, the emphasis moves toward community engagement and education. Therefore, allowing others to learn about these practices and creating solid linkages will help achieve building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions. Thus, a tailored solution is necessary for each area.

Figure 3. Reduce carbon emissions & recycle recyclable building materials

3.2 Government plays a driving role in improving utilization and achieving low carbon emissions

The government’s approach to developing a multi-dimensional approach towards encouraging companies to work towards low carbon objectives involves a combination of incentive measures, regulatory mechanisms, and financial contributions. Meanwhile, the government ensure sustainable construction practices by establishing industry-friendly policies. People can help attain this goal by becoming more aware of the repercussions of carbon emissions. The policies are tools for disseminating information. However, the policies necessitate funding and monitoring. The approach combines all these activities, including creating a green environment where the sustainability paradigm will be shifted. One of the most effective stimulants governments can give to construction and demolition enterprises is tangible incentives. Therefore, the government encourages companies to reduce their carbon emission through tax exemptions or subsidies based on their economic potential. It ensures that they provide solid business reasons for sustainability that are inevitable and essential. It provides an indirect subsidy towards such technologies, making the cost of using green technologies viable and profitable even in the context that seeks profits.

On the other hand, the government should implement rules and sanctions on those who go against them, thus building up a rigid system. An effective regulatory environment that emphasizes responsibility is generated when governments dictate acceptable standards of emissions during construction and demolition work. Environmental compliance penalties act as deterrents for companies, compelling them to adapt to the same. Therefore, any such regulation is necessary for creating and removing companies. They are essential when directing industry with specific research and development investments. It increases productivity since authorities make conducive environments where they can develop better technologies that would help enhance production. It encourages more creativity and allows for affordable and replicated ways of recycling waste. Sustainability is promoted when, in the industry, new approaches or materials that are geared toward minimizing become available. Additionally, encouraging partnerships among authority agencies, study institutions, and enterprise stakeholders could maximize the impact of these investments and establish an atmosphere for continuous improvement and sustainability culture.

On another hand, effective collaboration amongst government, various stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, and recycling facilities, is indispensable. Challenges tied to coordination and communication have the potential to impede the seamless execution of recycling endeavors. The establishment of robust collaboration mechanisms and the cultivation of lucid communication channels emerge as vital elements for the successful progression of projects.

4 Conclusion and Future Research

4.1 Conclusion

The comprehensive analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in demolition, renovation, and new construction to improve building material recycling efficiency and reduce carbon emissions has allowed me to gain a deeper perspective regarding sustainable construction practices.

The building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions strength is based on government backing and legislation, varied stakeholder engagement, technological improvements, and the use of BIM. We must learn how to maximize the utilization of its strengths to achieve a more effective recycling process and reduce carbon emissions. In my opinion, the government plays a critical role in accomplishing the goal of sustainability. The government may greatly impact various stakeholders by assisting it in achieving its goals consistent with sustainability goals. As a result, for the construction sector to have efficient recycling methods and reduce carbon emissions, it must maximize its utilization of its strength.

Meanwhile, the strategy of building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions has plenty of opportunities for improvement. Its weaknesses include data integration issues, interoperability issues, data quality concerns, and the complexity of cost-benefit analysis. The cost-benefit analysis is the most in need of improvement. It must be precise to make sound decisions during the recycling process. However, to achieve its aim of sustainability, the strategy of building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions must continue to focus on other areas that require improvement.

Also included are potential prospects, technological advancements, community engagement, and government incentives. There are numerous options for the building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions; all that remains is to decide which possibility would yield the best results. Regarding opportunities, it is critical to emphasize the impact of technical breakthroughs. Several technological advancements can be produced; therefore, it is critical to optimize the use of technology to improve recycling methods and reduce carbon emissions. As a result, it can use these opportunities to achieve greater results.

Ultimately, the strategy of building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions is threatened by a lack of financial incentives, regulatory compliance issues, opposition to change, and coordination issues. In my opinion, the coordination difficulty among stakeholders is the most difficult. Reaching the industry's aim is only possible if stakeholders collaborate and communicate. As a result, these people must be aware of the common goal of creating an efficient recycling system and lowering carbon emissions. They will know their roles and duties and can work together to achieve their goal if they have a common purpose. Furthermore, numerous factors must be considered if the building is to accomplish an efficient recycling operation and reduce carbon emissions. There are strengths that it can maximize the use, areas that they need to improve on, opportunities that they may use to attain their goal, and risks that can impede their success. It must aim toward sustainability to ensure a greener future for future generations.

4.2 Future Research

1) Government Work

Future research could aim to provide a deeper understanding of the practical implications of policies and regulations, leveraging insights from case studies and industry experiences. The policy narratives and associated challenges provide a contemporary perspective, grounding the discussion in the prevailing regulatory and operational landscapes characteristic of the construction industry. Such considerations offer a vital lens through which the industry's Alignment with sustainability regulations and the intrinsic challenges can be comprehensively understood and navigated. Additionally, exploring successful global policies could be valuable for developing academic knowledge and policy-creation resources in the future.

2) Green Building Incentives

Research should also focus on evaluating the effectiveness of existing incentive structures and identifying potential barriers and areas for improvement. A detailed exploration of how incentives are utilized and their direct impact on construction practices and outcomes would provide a solid foundation for future refinements.

3) Environmental and Economic Impacts

Investigating the long-term impacts of the strategy of building material recycling efficiency and low carbon emissions should be a priority in future studies, offering a more detailed and multifaceted view of the sustainability initiatives’ effectiveness and benefits. This would provide a more comprehensive perspective, ensuring that a broader array of considerations is included in evaluations of sustainable construction practices.