ANALYSIS OF FACTOR LIMITING THE ADOPTION OF THE 3Rs WASTE

MANAGEMENT METHODS BETWEEN SELECTED INDIGENOUS AND FOREIGN

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The 3Rs of the waste management strategy have been effective in the management of all kinds of
construction waste around the globe. Companies have adopted these methods for several reasons
which are noted limited to the process being economically, effective, and environmentally
friendly. This paper analyzes the factors affecting the use of 3Rs waste management methods in
Abuja, Nigeria. To achieve this the study adopted survey research methods. Through the survey,
a total of 10 questionnaires were shared among construction companies in Nigeria. The data
collected from the survey were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The result of the
analysis shows that among the 3Rs, local construction companies utilize waste reuse and
reduction over waste recycling due to the finance, technical know-how, and technologies
involved in waste management, while 100% percentage of mega foreign construction companies
like the Julius Berger and the China Civil Engineering Companies utilizes all the 3Rs. The study
recommends that the Nigerian government build construction waste management plants to
ensure effective waste management methods and the availability of foreign construction
materials through waste recycling.

Introduction

Human activities generate more than 90% of waste in the environment. These activities could be
linked to different bio-physical processes carried out by man, including the construction of
shelter and other infrastructure that are essential for human survival. In light of the above
assertion, construction wastes could be construed as waste accrued as a result of construction
processes or the use of construction materials. In more common parlance, construction waste is
by-products of construction materials like particles from blocks, unused concretes, scraps from
wood, and metals. Similarly, construction waste could be likened to the residual surplus or
unwanted material persistently causing environmental difficulties and global warming (Noiki et
al., 2021). Another important definition of construction waste attributes it as waste generated
from the residual or fall of particles from construction materials, as a result of construction work,
and abandoned whether or not it has been processed, or stocked up before being abandoned
(Fatusin, 2015).
Management of these wastes is vital for human health as most waste is very hazardous to man
and his bio-physical environment (Wimalasena et al., 2010). The method of managing
construction waste has evolved with "waste reuse", "waste reduction" and "waste recycling"
methods being the most prominent and also among the most environmentally and economically
friendly (Ekung, 2014).
Waste management through waste reduction involves the reduction of the quantity of waste at the
point of generation of disposal. This is done by carefully sorting out waste that could be reused,
minimizing the quantity of materials being used, and making effective use of materials in
construction sites(Ugwu et al., 2021). Waste management through reuse methods involves the
use of waste in its original form without interfering with its original form (Abdul-Rahman, 2020)
. Nigeria has markets popularly called "PANTAKER" where used materials, household items,
and used construction materials are being sold in their original form (Ugwu et al., 2021). This
market plays a key role in waste management through the process of the reuse strategy. Also,
unlike making use of waste in its original form, waste recycling involves altering the original
form in which materials exist to make new products. For instance, they altered the form of
broken glass and used POP ceilings in other to develop materials for the manufacturing of new
products (Murugesan & Vijayalakshmi, 2020).
It is imperative to note that among the three methods depicted among, the adoption of any of the
methods depends on several factors even though scholars have agreed that the type of waste
generated from construction material most often determines how such waste could be managed (
Ramakrishna, 2020).
The level of adoption of the key three Rs of waste management among companies operating in
Abuja differs. The study is posed to investigate the reason behind the difference levels of
adoption of waste management strategies among these companies.

Literature Review

There are several empirical or related studies on waste management in Nigeria. In a study,
(Akram Akhund et al., 2019) researched "Construction Waste Management Techniques: Merits
and Challenges for Recycling and Reusing". The study adopted a systematic review of waste
management techniques in Nigeria. The study revealed that waste recycling is the most favored
by most Nigerian firms but most often hindered by their clients who may insist or who always
claim ownership of some waste they can sell at the open market. The findings of the study reveal
that in waste management in Nigeria, the 5R principles are the most commonly adopted
hierarchy for managing waste worldwide. This includes reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and
remove.
Moreover, in another related study "An Assessment of Construction Waste Management
Practices Among Firms in Abuja" (Dzasu et al, 2010). The study examined construction waste
management practices in Abuja the capital city of Nigeria. The results obtained were analyzed
using the ranking order method. The study established that construction waste reuse ranked top
amongst construction waste management practices engaged in by firms in the study area.
Also, in another related work, "The Practice of Waste Management in Construction Sites in
Lagos State; Nigeria". The study adopted a survey research design to ascertain how construction
companies in Lagos Nigeria manage their waste. The study distributed over 40 questionnaires on
waste management to different construction firms in Lagos. The data analysis method adopted in
the study was the average index. The author (Ajayi. et al, 2008) noted that Increasing waste
generation on construction sites has become a topic of environmental concern in the metropolis.
Most construction and demolition waste is not recycled but ends up in landfills or dumps which
occupy valuable land.

Methodology
This study adopts a survey research design. A survey involves the method of gathering
information on specific issues by asking relevant questions to individuals or companies that the
researcher believes to have useful information on the subject under study (Brant et al., 2015). In
the survey, the research could use both structured and unstructured questions to elicit information
from the respondents (Avedian & Law School, 2014).
In this study, 10 companies were selected for the survey. The companies comprise five (5)
foreign-owned companies and five (5) locally-owned companies. The essence is to determine the
factors influencing waste management using the 3Rs compliance and factors affecting such
compliance. About this 10 questionnaires were distributed to these selected companies. The data
collected from the survey will be analyzed using statistical analysis. The reason is to determine
the level of relationship between these factors in determining the choice of waste management.

Data Analysis
 Type of Construction Company
Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Building Cons 4 40.0 40.0 40.0
Road Cons 3 30.0 30.0 70.0
General Cons 3 30.0 30.0 100.0
Total 10 100.0 100.0
from the table above, 10 construction companies participated in the survey, the construction was
grouped into road construction, building construction, and general construction. 40% of the
sampled construction companies are into building construction, 30% are into road construction
and the remaining 30% are into general construction.

What type of waste management adopted

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Modern (3Rs) 5 50.0 50.0 50.0
Traditional Methods 5 50.0 50.0 100.0
Total 10 100.0 100.0

The construction companies sampled adopt two main waste management methods, the local
construction companies in Nigeria adopt the traditional methods of waste management which
involve waste dumping, open burning, landfilling, etc. 20% of the local or indigenous companies
adopted one quota of the modern methods of waste reduction and also 30% adopts waste reuse
strategy. A good percentage of foreign companies representing 100% of the survey companies
adopt modern methods of waste management.

Reasons for adoption of waste management methods

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Economical 4 40.0 40.0 40.0
Effective 1 10.0 10.0 50.0
Core knowledge of methods 5 50.0 50.0 100.0
Total 10 100.0 100.0
The reason for the adoption of these methods across the surveyed companies varies. it is evident
from the data above that a good number of local companies adopt the strategy of waste reduction
and waste reuse. Local companies found waste reduction and reuse as a good means of
minimaxing resources and reducing financial expenses in construction sites.it is equally
important to note that these two methods do not require key technical knowledge and
technologies. for instance, a representative of a local company confirmed orally during the
survey that local bamboo sticks used for making scaffolds could be reused severally before they
could be discarded. There are three key reasons for the adoption of both traditional methods and
the modern 3Rs of waste management. The reason is due to economic, effective, and core
knowledge of methods.

Technical Knowledge about the 3Rs

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent
Valid Yes 3 30.0 30.0 30.0
 Minimal 2 20.0 20.0 50.0
No 5 50.0 50.0 100.0
Total 10 100.0 100.0

The data presented above reveals the level of technical knowledge most construction companies
in Nigeria have on the 3Rs. The data reveals that the most knowledge areas of the 3Rs among
local construction companies are the reuse and reduce strategies. oral evidence from the field of
the survey reveals that financial constraint and lack of technologies in the use of recycling
methods limits the use among local companies. Foreign companies favor these methods because
of the financial implications of importing new technologies and also due to the availability of
technologies used for waste recycling. It was equally gathered during the survey that the type of
waste involved determines also its management methods as not all waste could be recycled.
Conclusion
Waste management in construction sites using the 3Rs is an effective means of ensuring bio-
diversity and ensuring effective use of construction materials. The use of the 3Rs is effective in
managing waste but the fact remains that waste reduction and reuse are very popular among most
construction companies waste recycling makes materials available for companies in their original
form. The government should strive to ensure effective waste management methods in Nigeria.

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