Expert-based scenarios for strategic waste and resource management planning: C&D waste recycling in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

Andy Spoerri; Daniel Johannes Lang; Claudia R. Binder; Roland W. Scholz

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.04.011

Expert-based scenarios for strategic waste and resource management planning: C&D waste recycling in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

Andy Spoerri
, Daniel Johannes Lang
, Claudia R. Binder
, Roland W. Scholz

Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Zürich- ETH Zürich

Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is a promising option to conserve scarce landfill capacities, to reduce environmental impacts related to final disposal and to save primary mineral resources. In Switzerland, recycling of C&D waste is well established, but the high recycling rate is considered a labile equilibrium with respect to mid- to long-term developments such as an increase in the generated amounts of C&D waste and a shift in the demand patterns from civil engineering (CE) to structural engineering (SE). In light of the uncertainties related to the developments of the mineral construction material (MCM) market, this paper presents an expert-based formative scenario analysis (FSA) aiming to elaborate possible future states for the "C&D waste recycling" system in the Canton of Zurich for the year 2020. The study integrates the knowledge of 20 experts representing different stakeholders of the Swiss construction industry and C&D waste management, reinforcing collaboration among them. Three types of consistent scenarios were identified. They differ in quantity of C&D waste and the demand for recycled material, and thus, in the recycling rates which can be ascribed to different constellations of market relevant factors. The study identified potential barriers and related strategic orientations in order to assure the recycling of C&D waste in the mid- and long-term future. Furthermore, the study shows how FSA can be used as a purposeful means for strategic planning in regional waste management. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Journal	Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume	53
Issue number	10
Pages (from-to)	592-600
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0921-3449
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.04.011
Publication status	Published - 01.08.2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank all experts for their support, time and knowledge; the anonymous reviewers for their comments that essentially improved the quality of the article; Heather Murray for editing the text; and AWEL (Amt für Abfall, Wasser, Energie und Luft; Environmental Agency) of Canton Zurich and FOEN (Federal Office for the Environment) for funding the study as part of a cooperative project with the Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED) at the ETH Zurich.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Research areas and keywords

Sustainability sciences, Communication
Mineral construction materials
C&D waste
Formative scenario analysis
Knowledge integration
Strategic planning

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Waste Management and Disposal
Economics and Econometrics

Access to Document

10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.04.011

Cite this

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title = "Expert-based scenarios for strategic waste and resource management planning: C\&D waste recycling in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland",

abstract = "Recycling of construction and demolition (C\&D) waste is a promising option to conserve scarce landfill capacities, to reduce environmental impacts related to final disposal and to save primary mineral resources. In Switzerland, recycling of C\&D waste is well established, but the high recycling rate is considered a labile equilibrium with respect to mid- to long-term developments such as an increase in the generated amounts of C\&D waste and a shift in the demand patterns from civil engineering (CE) to structural engineering (SE). In light of the uncertainties related to the developments of the mineral construction material (MCM) market, this paper presents an expert-based formative scenario analysis (FSA) aiming to elaborate possible future states for the {"}C\&D waste recycling{"} system in the Canton of Zurich for the year 2020. The study integrates the knowledge of 20 experts representing different stakeholders of the Swiss construction industry and C\&D waste management, reinforcing collaboration among them. Three types of consistent scenarios were identified. They differ in quantity of C\&D waste and the demand for recycled material, and thus, in the recycling rates which can be ascribed to different constellations of market relevant factors. The study identified potential barriers and related strategic orientations in order to assure the recycling of C\&D waste in the mid- and long-term future. Furthermore, the study shows how FSA can be used as a purposeful means for strategic planning in regional waste management. {\textcopyright} 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.",

keywords = "Sustainability sciences, Communication, Mineral construction materials, C\&D waste, Formative scenario analysis, Knowledge integration, Strategic planning",

author = "Andy Spoerri and Lang, \{Daniel Johannes\} and Binder, \{Claudia R.\} and Scholz, \{Roland W.\}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank all experts for their support, time and knowledge; the anonymous reviewers for their comments that essentially improved the quality of the article; Heather Murray for editing the text; and AWEL (Amt f{\"u}r Abfall, Wasser, Energie und Luft; Environmental Agency) of Canton Zurich and FOEN (Federal Office for the Environment) for funding the study as part of a cooperative project with the Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED) at the ETH Zurich.",

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AU - Spoerri, Andy

AU - Lang, Daniel Johannes

AU - Binder, Claudia R.

AU - Scholz, Roland W.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank all experts for their support, time and knowledge; the anonymous reviewers for their comments that essentially improved the quality of the article; Heather Murray for editing the text; and AWEL (Amt für Abfall, Wasser, Energie und Luft; Environmental Agency) of Canton Zurich and FOEN (Federal Office for the Environment) for funding the study as part of a cooperative project with the Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED) at the ETH Zurich.

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N2 - Recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is a promising option to conserve scarce landfill capacities, to reduce environmental impacts related to final disposal and to save primary mineral resources. In Switzerland, recycling of C&D waste is well established, but the high recycling rate is considered a labile equilibrium with respect to mid- to long-term developments such as an increase in the generated amounts of C&D waste and a shift in the demand patterns from civil engineering (CE) to structural engineering (SE). In light of the uncertainties related to the developments of the mineral construction material (MCM) market, this paper presents an expert-based formative scenario analysis (FSA) aiming to elaborate possible future states for the "C&D waste recycling" system in the Canton of Zurich for the year 2020. The study integrates the knowledge of 20 experts representing different stakeholders of the Swiss construction industry and C&D waste management, reinforcing collaboration among them. Three types of consistent scenarios were identified. They differ in quantity of C&D waste and the demand for recycled material, and thus, in the recycling rates which can be ascribed to different constellations of market relevant factors. The study identified potential barriers and related strategic orientations in order to assure the recycling of C&D waste in the mid- and long-term future. Furthermore, the study shows how FSA can be used as a purposeful means for strategic planning in regional waste management. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

AB - Recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is a promising option to conserve scarce landfill capacities, to reduce environmental impacts related to final disposal and to save primary mineral resources. In Switzerland, recycling of C&D waste is well established, but the high recycling rate is considered a labile equilibrium with respect to mid- to long-term developments such as an increase in the generated amounts of C&D waste and a shift in the demand patterns from civil engineering (CE) to structural engineering (SE). In light of the uncertainties related to the developments of the mineral construction material (MCM) market, this paper presents an expert-based formative scenario analysis (FSA) aiming to elaborate possible future states for the "C&D waste recycling" system in the Canton of Zurich for the year 2020. The study integrates the knowledge of 20 experts representing different stakeholders of the Swiss construction industry and C&D waste management, reinforcing collaboration among them. Three types of consistent scenarios were identified. They differ in quantity of C&D waste and the demand for recycled material, and thus, in the recycling rates which can be ascribed to different constellations of market relevant factors. The study identified potential barriers and related strategic orientations in order to assure the recycling of C&D waste in the mid- and long-term future. Furthermore, the study shows how FSA can be used as a purposeful means for strategic planning in regional waste management. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

KW - Mineral construction materials

KW - C&D waste

KW - Formative scenario analysis

KW - Knowledge integration

KW - Strategic planning

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U2 - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.04.011

DO - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.04.011

M3 - Journal articles

SN - 0921-3449

VL - 53

SP - 592

EP - 600

JO - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

JF - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

IS - 10

ER -

Expert-based scenarios for strategic waste and resource management planning: C&D waste recycling in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Research areas and keywords

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Access to Document

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Cite this