An Assessment of the Impact of Building Materials Recycling On Sustainable Housing Development in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

The increasing demand for environmentally sustainable housing in Nigeria, especially in urban centers like Ile-Ife, Osun State, has brought attention to the challenges posed by resource depletion, high construction costs and environmental degradation. Despite the availability and potential benefits of recycled building materials, their adoption in housing development remains limited. The central issue addressed in this study is the inadequate utilization of recycled materials in the local construction sector, largely due to a lack of awareness, insufficient policy support, and limited technical capacity. This research explores how the recycling of construction materials impacts sustainable housing development in Ile-Ife. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed using a simple random sampling technique to ensure fair representation of stakeholders, including Builders, Estate Surveyors and Valuers, residents, Engineers, and Government Personnel. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, incorporating surveys, interviews, and field observations to gather comprehensive data. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were employed to assess relationships between recycling practices and sustainability outcomes. Findings reveal a high level of awareness (74.7%) but relatively low consistent usage (13.8%) of recycled materials. Recycling was found to significantly improve cost efficiency, environmental performance, and resource utilization. However, barriers such as lack of policy support, inadequate recycling infrastructure, and concerns about material quality persist. The chi-square test (χ² = 14.44, p < 0.05) confirms a statistically significant relationship between recycling practices and sustainable housing development. The study concludes that promoting material recycling can enhance sustainable housing delivery and recommends policy incentives, infrastructure development, and stakeholder education to improve adoption.