A theory of waste behaviour in the construction industry

TLDR

Construction waste must be reduced for environmental and economic reasons, and changing workers’ wasteful behaviour can significantly help. The study applies Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour to investigate operative attitudes toward waste and proposes a theory of waste behaviour with recommendations for managers. The research employed Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour to examine operative attitudes shaping waste behaviour. The study finds that operatives view waste as inevitable, hold pragmatic but not negative attitudes hampered by perceived managerial indifference, regard waste management as a low priority lacking resources and incentives, and proposes a waste‑behaviour theory with managerial recommendations.

Abstract

Levels of waste within the construction industry need to be reduced for environmental and economic reasons. Changing people's wasteful behaviour can make a significant contribution. This paper describes a research project that used Ajzen's ‘theory of planned behaviour’ to investigate the attitudinal forces that shape behaviour at the operative level. It concludes that operatives see waste as an inevitable by-product of construction activity. Attitudes towards waste management are not negative, although they are pragmatic and impeded by perceptions of a lack of managerial commitment. Waste management is perceived as a low project priority, and there is an absence of appropriate resources and incentives to support it. A theory of waste behaviour is proposed for the construction industry, and recommendations are made to help managers improve operatives' attitudes towards waste.