From skip bin to savings: Clients, architects and builders working to waste less

The challenge in society the research addresses

Waste from building construction can constitute up to forty percent of the total waste generated.

How the research is addressing the challenge

Dr Mathur's research examines the generation, composition and management of construction and demolition waste in regional areas, with the aim of reducing landfill dependency and promoting material reuse. Through conducting six externally funded research projects on construction waste, Dr Mathur identified the importance of segregating construction waste, the limitations of small markets for reuse and recycling in regional towns, and the critical role of client in supporting circular economy initiatives.

The real world benefit/change the research is creating

Using Dr Mathur's research results:
•Alice Springs Town Council has provided tiered tariffs (different rates for clean and mixed waste) as incentives to building contractors leading to reduced volumes of waste going into landfill, thereby prolonging the life of the landfill.
•Architects (Sue Dugdale & Associates) and builders (MPH builders, Scope construction, ASbuild) involved in the research projects have subsequently become agents of change and promoting waste reduction in their projects.
•CDU improved their sustainability reporting by using the Zero waste case study (Info Shop renovation at CDU, Alice Springs)
•New Green star rating will be developed for regional towns that will incentivize clients towards diverting waste from landfill, thereby reducing waste and prolonging landfill life
•DIPL modified a building contract specification to increase recycled materials in Ludmilla school after their delegate attended a workshop during one of our research projects

Beneficiaries (and how they are benefiting)

The research has benefited:

Architects: who have used reducing waste as an innovation when applying for Green star ratings.
Builders: have saved costs by reducing landfill fees through diverted waste. Clients have benefited by using waste reduction in their sustainability reporting, thus improving their credentials in working towards SDG’s.

Associated research that supports the research and change/benefits

Over the last decade, Dr Mathur has emerged – nationally and internationally – as a leading scholar and applied researcher in the socio-cultural dimensions of waste and waste management and in frameworks of circular economy. In doing so –and with over 20 applied research projects under her belt – Dr Mathur demonstrates a deep commitment to advancing sustainable outcomes, especially for remote and regional communities across the NT. In fact, her work is exemplary in its emplaced engagement with waste management in Indigenous communities and its ethical focus on benefiting First Nations peoples. Her work thus speaks directly to CDU research strengths in sustainability, to our commitment to the UN sustainable development goals, and to the CDU emphasis on First Nations engagement.

Additional information about the research

Critical to Dr Mathur's research is the process of co-design which centres on researching with people rather than about people. To this end, Dr Mathur involve stakeholders, beneficiaries and end users in the whole of research project lifecycle including the planning and design of the research and the research activities. Their experiences and professional expertise improve the research agenda and priority setting; ensure the final research outputs and outcomes have relevancy; maximize research use, application and impact. 

Category of impact	Economic impacts, Environmental impacts, Social impacts