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Purpose: This study aims to identify and quantitatively evaluate the factors that influence the construction and demolition waste (CDW) policy instrument choice, and provide a systematic framework for local governments to select the appropriate policy instruments with a consideration of their specific situations. Design/methodology/approach: Literature review and expert interviews were conducted to identify the key factors. These factors were quantitatively evaluated via a questionnaire survey. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to explore the underlying structure of these variables and organize the factors into a systematic framework. Findings: Resource, clarity of policy problem and goal, legitimacy, acceptance of targeted group and environmental concern of public are the five top variables, which should be emphasized in the selection of CDW policy. The respondents with experience in policymaking and those without experience had slightly different views on the importance of these variables. A total of six latent factors were identified and organized into a framework. Research limitations/implications: The questionnaire survey was conducted with government staff via a snowball sampling method, which may affect the representativeness of conclusions to a certain extent. Practical implications: This study provides a useful reference for local government to choose appropriate policies to address the CDW problem. Matching attributes of policy instruments with the policy goal and the problem is the starting point in choice of the CDW policy. The matched instruments will be further narrowed by social context, i.e. environmental concern and socioeconomic situation. The final selection must undergo bargaining between policymakers and targeted groups. Originality/value: Policy instruments choice is a complicated process, which is shaped by the interaction of many influential factors. However, the impact of these factors on CDW policy choice is largely overlooked. This study will contribute to the knowledge body pertaining to policy selection in the CDW field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Key policies to promote the CDW recycling are quantitatively explored. • The stepwise regression was employed to evaluate the effect of the nine policies. • Green product label is the top policy followed by Charge and Tax and Technical Standard. • 84.6% of the sample cities employed the Charge and Tax. • The ratios were only 11.5% for Technical Standard and 7.7% for Green Product Label. There is a growing need to recycle construction and demolition waste (CDW) in order to treat the huge amount of CDW in many metropolises of China. However, the CDW recycling industry is still in its initial stage and developed unevenly across various areas of China. In spite of some qualitative discussions, the quantitative analysis of crucial policies to the development of CDW recycling industry was overlooked. Through literature review, nine influential policy instruments were identified in term of three categories, i.e. control and command policy, market-based policy and information-based policy. The stepwise regression analysis was employed to explore the relationships between the influential policies and the development level of CDW recycling industry in 52 sample Chinese cities. The results demonstrated that Green Product Label, Charge and Tax and Technical Standards had statistically significant association with the development of CDW recycling industry in sample cities. In the surveyed cities, Charge or Tax was the most common policy tool (84.6%), but Green Product Label (7.7%) and Technological standards (11.5%) were rather less frequently employed. According to the results, Green Product Label and Technical Standards should be given higher priority. In addition, landfill charge should be introduced as a fundamental impetus. These results provide directions for other cities to facilitate the development of their CDW recycling industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The increasing construction and demolition (C&D) waste causes both cost inefficiency and environmental pollution. Many countries have developed regulations to minimize C&D waste. Implementation of these regulations requires an understanding of the magnitude and material composition of waste stream. Construction waste generation index is a useful tool for estimating the amount of construction waste and can be used as a benchmark to enhance the sustainable performance of construction industry. This paper presents a model for quantifying waste generation per gross floor area (WGA) based on mass balance principle for building construction in China. WGAs for major types of material are estimated using purchased amount of major materials and their material waste rate (MWR). The WGA for minor quantities of materials is estimated together as a percentage of total construction waste. The model is applied to a newly constructed residential building in Shenzhen city of South China. The WGA of this project is 40.7kg/m2, and concrete waste is the largest contributor to the index. Comparisons with transportation records in site, empirical index in China and data in other economies reveal that the proposed model is valid and practical. The proposed model can be used to setup a benchmark WGA for Chinese construction industry by carrying out large-scale investigations in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]