Comprehensive plastic waste characterisation to enhance landfill diversion in New Zealand’s construction industry
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Other Title
Authors
Low, J.K
Berry, S.
Hernandez, German
Thomson, Penny
Steinhorn, Gregor
Waghela, H.
Briggs, C.
Berry, Terri-Ann
Berry, S.
Hernandez, German
Thomson, Penny
Steinhorn, Gregor
Waghela, H.
Briggs, C.
Berry, Terri-Ann
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Grantor
Date
2025-03-19
Supervisors
Type
Journal Article
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
New Zealand
construction waste management
plastic waste
waste disposal
landfills
circular waste economy
on-site waste separation
construction waste management
plastic waste
waste disposal
landfills
circular waste economy
on-site waste separation
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Low, J.K., Berry, S., Thomson, P., Steinhorn, G., Briggs, Cole, Berry, C., & Berry, TA. March. (2025). Comprehensive plastic waste characterisation to enhance landfill diversion in New Zealand’s construction industry. Sustainability, 17(6), 27-42. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062742
Abstract
The plastic profile of construction waste is varied and complex, particularly when compared to other waste streams such as timber, concrete, metals, and plasterboard. There are fewer incentives for recycling this low-density, low-value waste stream. Plastic waste generated by construction activities remains poorly characterised, obstructing efforts to optimise reduction, reuse, and recycling practices. To understand its types and sources, and better address plastic waste management, this study audited plastic waste produced across six new-build construction sites in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 7.2 tonnes of plastic construction waste was collected on-site and audited. Plastics were separated, weighed, and categorised by function and construction stage. Polymer type was determined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In total, 62% of plastic waste was diverted from landfill through reuse or recycling. On average, 0.61 kg of plastic was generated per m2 of construction. Soft plastics were the most generated by mass (33%), followed by PVC and HDPE pipes (22%), shrink wrap (12%), and expanded polystyrene (5%). The majority of plastic waste was generated in the final stages of the projects. The authors recommend the separation of soft plastic, pipes, shrink wrap, and polystyrene on construction sites, particularly towards the finishing stages of construction.
Publisher
MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
Permanent link
Link to ePress publication
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062742
Copyright holder
Authors: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Copyright notice
CC BY Attribution 4.0 International