Integrating circular economy and industrial ecology for sustainable management of construction and demolition waste in South Africa

Driven by escalating environmental degradation and extreme climate events, the 21st-century global economy now places sustainability at its core. Researchers, policymakers, global institutions and environmentalists worldwide are urging a shift to environmentally friendly waste management practices to ease environmental pressure. Although sustainable practices have emerged in key sectors like construction to reduce their harmful impacts, many remain ineffective, particularly in developing countries. This study analyses global construction and demolition waste management methods and proposes a suitable model for developing countries, using South Africa as a case study. This was carried out using a systematic literature review, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires, with epistemic communities in the construction and environment sector. The study found that while most construction and demolition waste management approaches are highly effective in developed countries, they are less effective and less applicable in developing countries. It is argued that methods from developed countries cannot be directly applied in developing countries like South Africa and must be adapted to local economic and technological contexts. To enhance construction and demolition waste management in South Africa, a hybrid approach combining circular economy and industrial ecology is proposed as an effective solution.