Assessing the Challenges for Implementation of Circular Economy Principles in Waste Management in Nigerian Construction Industry

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) framework is based on principles that has emerged as a viable strategy for promoting sustainable construction and minimizing environmental impact. However, the strategy has not been effectively adopted in Nigerian construction industry due to certain challenges. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the challenges of circular economy principles for waste mitigation in construction projects in Abuja, Nigeria with a view for future research to investigate how the challenges can be reduced. The research adopted a descriptive survey research design. A structured questionnaire was administered to 450 respondents, while 427 valid responses were analyzed. Findings revealed that client preference, quality concerns and liability issues are the three most significant challenges of adoption of circular economy for waste mitigation in Nigerian construction industry. The study concludes that future studies should develop and test frameworks to address client perception and liability concerns in CE procurement, which could substantially enhance resource efficiency and, reduce material waste in Abuja’s building projects.