CBPM 2025 · Vol. 2025, Issue 1

Barriers to Effective Construction Waste Reduction: A Study of Contractors in The Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Nontlahla Mphako, Athenkosi Sogaxa and Lance Wentzel

Keywords: Construction waste, Waste reduction plans, Recycling facilities, Waste management, Sustainable procurement strategies.

Abstract

In the Eastern Cape Province, construction projects generate massive amounts of solid waste that pose a threat to environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. This study aims to identify the obstacles Eastern Cape Province contractors have in effectively cutting construction waste. The study employed a quantitative research approach, and a questionnaire survey was used to examine the challenges of minimising construction waste. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied in data analysis. Principal factor analysis indicated that there are seven significant factors with eigenvalues greater than one that affect contractors' capacity to minimise waste: insufficient communication for waste reduction, poor access to recycling facilities, inappropriate on-site reusing of materials, no zero-waste philosophy, failure to identify near-on-site recycling facilities, inadequate waste management equipment and inability to trace on-site-produced waste. The findings offer valuable insights into the challenges faced by contractors in the Eastern Cape in reducing construction waste. These findings will help industry professionals, policymakers, and contractors develop targeted solutions, design effective training programmes, and adopt best practices to promote sustainable construction, reduce waste, and lower costs. The primary aim of this research is to span the knowledge gap in understanding the waste minimisation problems faced by contractors in the Eastern Cape, a province with unique socioeconomic and infrastructure challenges.