Advancing construction waste management in Kuwait: A novel strategic technological framework for circular and sustainable practices

Abstract

The construction sector in Kuwait is experiencing rapid expansion, yet Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) management remains inefficient, with over 85% of CDW still sent to landfills and only about 15 % recycled. This reliance on linear "take-make-dispose" waste practices contradicts Kuwait Vision 2035 sustainability goals and global best practices in circular construction. The industry faces significant regulatory gaps, technological underutilisation, economic disincentives, and stakeholder resistance to change, all limiting the adoption of sustainable waste management strategies. To address these challenges, this study develops a comprehensive integrated technological framework that leverages Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP), and On-Site Recycling (OSR) to enhance waste tracking, optimise material reuse, and reduce landfill dependency. The research employs a mixed-methods approach underpinned by a pragmatic philosophy. It combines a quantitative survey of 129 construction stakeholders with qualitative insights from 82 semi-structured interviews, supplemented by policy analysis and two in-depth case studies in public-sector construction projects managed by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW). The study is grounded in Circular Economy (CE) principles and the 4R waste hierarchy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover), providing a theoretical foundation for the proposed framework. The findings reveal critical inefficiencies in Kuwait’s CDW management system, including weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate financial incentives, and very low adoption of digital technologies. Stakeholder insights confirm that a lack of awareness and persistent resistance to change further hinder the implementation of BIM, 3DCP, and OSR. As a solution, this study proposes an integrated BIM–3DCP–OSR framework tailored to Kuwait’s construction sector. BIM is employed for real-time waste monitoring and material lifecycle tracking, 3DCP for sustainable material utilisation and reduction of formwork waste, and OSR for decentralised recycling at project sites. The framework was examined and refined through expert validation interviews, document analysis, and theoretical alignment with CE principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results demonstrate the feasibility and potential of integrating these technologies to significantly increase material recovery rates, reduce reliance on virgin resources, and divert waste from landfills. The framework provides a scalable model that can be adapted beyond Kuwait, particularly in the GCC and MENA regions, where similar CDW management challenges persist. This research contributes to both theory and practice by bridging digital construction technologies with sustainability principles and offering a replicable model for data-driven circular CDW management. The recommendations include policy measures for mandatory BIM-based waste tracking, the development of 3DCP material standards, and stricter enforcement of on-site recycling to accelerate the transition to circular construction. The findings and recommendations align with Kuwait Vision 2035 and SDGs 9, 11, 12, and 13. supporting Kuwait’s national sustainability commitments. Actionable recommendations are provided for the Kuwait Environment Public Authority (EPA) to update regulations, incentivise innovation, and build capacity for sustainable CDW management. The thesis concludes by emphasising the novelty of the integrated framework and suggesting avenues for future research, including large-scale economic feasibility assessments, integration of emerging technologies (AI, IoT) for waste tracking, and the role of public–private partnerships in scaling circular construction practices.