Enhancing Construction Waste Management Practices in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania: A Source-Based Minimization through Reuse and Recycling

The construction industry plays a vital role in economic development but is also a major source of construction waste (CW), a by-product of on-site activities. In rapidly urbanizing areas, CW has become a growing concern due to its environmental impacts, including depletion of natural resources, land degradation, and increased construction costs. As such, sustainable improvement in construction waste management (CWM) is essential. This study aimed to assess strategies for improving CWM, with a focus on source-based minimization through reuse and recycling practices. A mixedmethods approach was adopted, incorporating field measurements, structured interviews, questionnaires, and onsite observations at six construction sites in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam. The study identified several types of CW, including packaging materials, cement bags, iron offcuts, gypsum, reinforcement bars, cement-sand mixtures, and concrete debris. Cement-sand and concrete waste constituted the largest portion, accounting for 77% of total waste generated. The average daily waste generation was 81.5 kg/day, ranging from 34.4 kg/day at Site D to 139.4 kg/day at Site C. Findings revealed limited adoption of reuse and recycling practices and an average compliance rate of only 51% with site waste management plans. The study recommends strengthening enforcement of waste management policies and promoting effective reuse and recycling practices to enhance sustainability in the construction sector..