A Feasible Circularity Model for Construction Wood Wastes in Developing Countries: The Case of Kenya and Nigeria

As the population of Africa is expected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050, construction activities are also expected to increase due to urbanization. This would create an increase in the demand for more material and the generation of more construction wastes which largely constitute concrete, reinforcement steel, and wood wastes. In Nigeria, the management of construction waste is not sustainable enough, likewise in Kenya. Construction sector remains a major contributor to solid waste disposal. The approach of circularity in the construction sector presents an alternative for preparing for re-reuse and recycling of valuable construction wood wastes. Creating more business opportunities for local craftsmen and second-hand material sellers. However, the lack of a circularity model of practice for construction activities remains a challenge among many others. The objective of this paper is to develop a feasible circular economy model for construction wood Waste for Kenya and Nigeria, of which the paper first reviewed the barriers and potentials of circular economy in the construction sector of these two countries, then reviewed relative literatures on organizational or business models of circular economy in construction sector and other sectors, to understand and re-interpret an appropriate circularity models feasible for construction wood waste in Kenya and Nigeria. Secondly a structured questionnaire survey was carried out with stakeholders from both countries to access their input on the feasibility of the developed model. The stakeholders' survey reveals that 69 percent agreed that the model is feasible in Kenya, while 38.5 percent agreed that the model is feasible in Nigeria, another 38.5 percent agreed the model is fairly feasible in Nigeria. The stakeholders also attested to other measures that would improve the proposed construction wood waste circularity model including early-stage design decisions, involvement of government regulations, introduction of Building Information Modelling (BIM), and introduction of independent warehouse storage facilities.