Sustainable urban development: Evaluating the potential of mineral-based construction and demolition waste recycling in emerging economies

Widespread illegal disposal of surging construction and demolition waste (CDW) is a prominent threat to recycling, leading to resource wastage and environmental issues. The lack of data is a major barrier to designing an effective waste management system in emerging economies. Employing a mixed-method approach, a cross-sectional case study was conducted on an Indian city to assess the existing system and investigate the root causes of low recycling rates and limited demand for recycled materials. The study finds that (a) illegal disposal is prevalent due to the "end-of-pipe" approach of the waste management system, (b) policy enforcement on waste generators is weak, (c) low-rise residential buildings are the major contributor of waste, (d) low demand for recycled material is due to lack of awareness, marketing, incentives, and high costs, (e) transportation costs are 50% higher than the recycled material cost, and (f) lack of segregation leading to the production of low-value materials. All these factors make recycling unattractive and the circular economy (CE) unfeasible. Stakeholder awareness, a centralized trading platform, and integrated waste management systems are essential to promote recycling and advance SDGs 9, 11, and 12, focusing on industry, sustainable cities, and responsible consumption and production.