Developing a hierarchical framework for assessing the strategic effectiveness of sustainable waste management in the Somaliland construction industry

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 May;30(25):67303-67325. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27060-8. Epub 2023 Apr 27.

Abstract

This study contributes to develop a hierarchical framework for assessing the strategic effectiveness of waste management in the construction industry. This study identifies a valid set of strategic effectiveness attributes of sustainable waste management (SWM) in construction. Prior studies have neglected to develop a strategic effectiveness assessment framework for SWM to identify reduce, reuse, and recycle policy initiatives that ensure waste minimization and resource recovery programs. This study utilizes the fuzzy Delphi method to screen out nonessential attributes in qualitative information. This study initially proposes a set of 75 criteria; after two rounds of assessment, consensus regarding 28 criteria is achieved among experts, and the 28 criteria are validated. Fuzzy interpretive structural modeling divides the attributes into various elements. The modeling constructs a six-level model that depicts the interrelationships among the 28 validated criteria as a hierarchical framework, and it finds and ranks the optimal drivers for practical improvement. This study integrates the best-worst method to measure the weights of different criteria in the hierarchical strategic effectiveness framework. The findings reveal that waste management operational strategy, construction site waste management performance, and the mutual coordination level are the top aspects for assessing strategic effectiveness in the hierarchical framework. In practice, the waste reduction rate, the recycling rate, water and land usage, the reuse rate, and noise and air pollution levels are identified to assist policymakers in evaluation. The theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Keywords: Best–worst method; Construction and demolition waste; Fuzzy Delphi method; Fuzzy interpretive structural modeling; Reuse and recycling policy; Waste minimization.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution*
  • Construction Industry*
  • Construction Materials
  • Recycling
  • Waste Management* / methods