In the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China, where land resources are scarce and population density is high, the construction industry has long been a key economic sector. However, managing construction and demolition (C&D) waste has become one of Macau’s most pressing environmental challenges due to the limited recycling market and high costs of recycling.
To address this issue, China Construction Engineering (Macau) Co., Ltd. has implemented the "zero-waste construction site" concept in all phases of the 'Elderly Apartment' project. This innovative approach provides a forward-thinking solution to C&D waste management, focusing on reducing solid waste at the source and maximizing the use of secondary resources. The initiative incorporates several key measures:
(1) Prefabricated Construction
The project uses prefabricated components that are manufactured off-site and assembled on-site. This approach minimizes construction waste generated during the build process and significantly shortens the construction timeline.
(2) Smart Site Construction Development
By integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology with smart construction site systems, the project reduces the need for rework in later stages. Daily production management is seamlessly connected to the smart site system, resulting in enhanced efficiency and waste reduction.
(3) Smart Waste Reduction Platform
A cloud-based intelligent waste reduction platform has been developed. This platform monitors the data on C&D waste generation and other critical conditions during construction, helping to formulate actionable improvement plans.
(4) Reuse of Temporary and Existing Resources
The project maximizes the reuse of existing piles that meet design standards for integrity, strength, and bearing capacity. A range of recyclable temporary construction facilities has also been adopted, alongside the recycling and utilization of locally available materials.
(5) Measures to Reduce Waste
Innovative practices have been introduced to further minimize waste, such as:
●Electric transportation tools to prevent damage to building materials during transit.
●Installing electrical and mechanical lines on brick walls without slotting.
●Using hole punches instead of hand grinders to reduce material scraps.
●Employing line groove profiles to eliminate the need for slotting and chiseling of hydropower lines.
'Elderly Apartment' Project
Cloud-based Waste Management Platform
BCRC China WeChat Official Account
