Airports are vital infrastructures that play a crucial role in the transportation industry. They undergo continuous construction, expansion, demolition, and renovation projects to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods. However, the effective management of waste generated from these activities is often overlooked. This negligence leads to various challenges for airport operations, safety, cost, space, and environmental sustainability. The objective of this research is to analyze the causes of construction waste generation, identify challenges in waste management, and propose possible solutions to address the issue. The study focuses on Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and involves a case study approach, including questionnaire surveys and focus group discussions with clients, consultants, and contractors experienced in construction practices at TIA. The research aims to assess the current practices of construction waste management during construction and demolition works at TIA. The specific objectives are to identify the causes of waste generation, recognize major challenges in waste management processes, and recommend potential remedial measures. The study reveals that the main causes of waste generation are the lack of awareness among designers about waste management practices, poor material storage practices, and rework due to poor work quality. The causes are ranked based on their Relative Importance Index (RII) values. The study also identifies challenges such as the lack of management for waste collection, inadequate storage areas for waste segregation, insufficient planning for waste reusing and recycling, and the absence of an overall plan for waste disposal. Spearman's rank correlation analysis is conducted to examine the correlation between the responses from clients, contractors, and consultants. The research concludes with recommendations derived from the content analysis of the focus group discussions. The findings emphasize the need for education, workshops, and training to raise awareness about construction waste management (CWM), waste management strategies, and the benefits of effectively managing construction waste in construction projects.

Keywords

Construction waste management, Tribhuvan International Airport, Relative Importance Index, Spearman’s Rank Correlation, Construction and Demolition waste (C&DW), Waste segregation, Waste reuse and recycling, Focus Group Discussion

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