The attitudes of demolition contractors to reusing building components: a study in New South Wales, Australia

Over 16 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste (C&D) is generated in Australia each year, and nearly 42% of this is disposed of in landfills. Waste disposal has a detrimental impact on the environment. Improved waste management practices are required to address sustainability goals. This study was conducted to investigate how demolition contractors’ attitudes affect the ways they manage their operations and how these attitudes lead to the reuse of building components. The study was administered in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. A questionnaire survey focusing on “Reuse” was designed and issued to demolition contractors. Forty-two responses were collected from the respondents. The results showed that nearly 38% of demolition contractors did not have any form of strategy, guideline or goal for reusing building components, despite most of them viewing this as a fairly important measure. Additionally, the study elicited other relevant factors including the main reasons for reusing building components and the significance of cooperating with building designers. This study concluded that, as demolition contractors play a pivotal role in the management of C&D waste, more attention is needed to improve their overall practices.