Operatives' attitudes towards waste on construction project

An emerging concern within the construction industry is how to better manage waste, because of the associated environmental and cost implications. Current research in this area has focused on the quantification of waste and on identifying ways in which it can be minimised, reused, recycled or disposed of. However, the labour-intensive nature of construction activity suggests that behavioural impediments could also influence waste levels. This paper presents the results of research which investigated the forces which shaped operatives' attitudes towards waste in the construction industry. The findings suggested that operatives' attitudes towards waste were positive but that any goodwill was impeded by a lack of managerial commitment to the issue of waste reduction.