This chapter delves into the pressing issue of construction waste, revealing the types of materials involved and the challenges of disposal. It contrasts the waste generated by small renovations with the massive output from large projects while highlighting China's low utilization rate for such waste. The discussion advocates for a circular economy, emphasizing recycling and the historical context of material reuse in Chinese construction, along with the innovative steps cities like Shanghai are taking to improve waste management.
Shanghai, Zhejiang, and five other provinces and municipalities in east, central, and southwest China have been called out for the ways in which construction waste is handled in their jurisdiction. China has seen decades of rapid urbanization and countless construction projects over the past several decades, but it is not too late to adopt tougher oversight on waste processing and management. On the show: Laiming, Niu Honglin & Steve Hatherly