Reimagining Solid Waste Management in India: A case of Circular approach in C&D Waste Management

Year : 2026 | Volume : 16 | Issue : 01 | Page : 1 10
    By

    Sayan Munshi,

  • Aditee Prabhakar,

  • Rajarshi,

  • Sweta Rupapara,

Abstract

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste, which accounts for an estimated 150–500 MT yearly and about 10–20% of the nation’s total municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, is a significant management challenge for India. Accelerated urbanization, population increase, infrastructural expansion, and urban redevelopment initiatives are the main causes of this quickly expanding waste stream. Much of this waste is disposed of through uncontrolled dumping, encroachment on low-lying areas, and overcrowded landfills in the absence of proper segregation and treatment, which causes serious environmental degradation, hazards to public health, and the loss of important land resources. With an emphasis on sustainable management techniques based on circular economy concepts, this study explores the lifecycle environmental effects of construction and demolition debris as well as its changing role in modern urban development. There are notable differences in the frequency of demolitions, rehabilitation cycles, and construction methods between India and the United States. India is still mostly dependent on demolition-driven redevelopment, which frequently lacks institutional recovery and reuse systems, in contrast to the United States, which has higher renovation-led trash creation and established recycling markets. To highlight the possibility of improved resource efficiency, reuse, and recycling, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) frameworks are investigated. Case studies from Thilafushi Island in the Maldives and Kolkata, India, show real-world problems and context-specific solutions, such as material substitution in building block production, decentralized processing, and biomining of legacy waste. The study looks at how circularity in construction and demolition waste management might lower carbon footprints, lessen the impact of urban heat islands by reusing materials, and support national programs like SBM 2.0. This paper aims to study the urgent need for robust governance frameworks to integrate C&D waste management into India’s broader low-carbon urban growth trajectory.

Keywords: Construction and Demolition Waste, Circular Economy, Waste Management, Urban Sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Resource Efficiency, Carbon Footprint, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, Landfill Overflow, Waste-to-Energy, Urban Heat Island, Recycling Infrastructure, Sustainable Development, Legacy Waste, Environmental Impact, Real Estate Sector, Biomining, Thilafushi Island, Prefabrication, Modular Construction

[This article belongs to Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management ]

How to cite this article:
Sayan Munshi, Aditee Prabhakar, Rajarshi, Sweta Rupapara. Reimagining Solid Waste Management in India: A case of Circular approach in C&D Waste Management. Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management. 2026; 16(01):1-10.
How to cite this URL:
Sayan Munshi, Aditee Prabhakar, Rajarshi, Sweta Rupapara. Reimagining Solid Waste Management in India: A case of Circular approach in C&D Waste Management. Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management. 2026; 16(01):1-10. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jocetm/article=2026/view=236376


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Regular Issue Subscription Case Study
Volume 16
Issue 01
Received 26/05/2025
Accepted 03/12/2025
Published 01/01/2026
Publication Time 220 Days
43

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