Circular Economy Framework for Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Waste

Abstract

Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste constitutes nearly 30–40% of the total urban solid waste in India, creating serious environmental and logistical challenges. Conventional linear “take–make–dispose” models cause material depletion and landfill saturation. This study proposes a Circular Economy (CE)-based framework integrating GIS-based waste flow mapping, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to maximize material recovery and reuse. Empirical data were drawn from urban redevelopment projects in South Kolkata, focusing on waste generation patterns, material composition, and recycling logistics. The model evaluates waste generation intensity, recovery potential, and spatial proximity to recycling hubs. A brownfield housing redevelopment project (~480 units) was used as a pilot case to validate the CE framework. The proposed model demonstrates up to 30% carbon reduction and 15% cost recovery through material circularity, contributing directly to India’s Smart City and Net Zero Carbon missions.