Construction Waste Management Practices..
Construction Waste Management Practices..
Construction Waste Management Practices..
DAVID GITAU
D53/CTY/PT/37125/2016
SEPTEMBER, 2018
DECLARATION
I declare that this research project is my original work and it has not been submitted for the award
of any degree or diploma in any other institution. No part of the project should be reproduced
David Gitau
D53/CTY/PT/37125/2016
This research project is submitted for examination with my approval as the appointed university
supervisor.
School of Business
Kenyatta University
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DEDICATION
This research project is dedicated to my wife and my children. Thank you for your love and support
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I do wish to acknowledge my supervisor Dr. Caleb Kirui and appreciate his efforts in guiding me
through each step by sharing his powerful knowledge with me. I also wish to thank Kenyatta
University fraternity for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a great institution.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION........................................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION.............................................................................................................................. iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. v
LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... viii
LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... ix
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................................... x
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ........................................................................... xi
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ xiii
CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background to the Study...................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1 Project Performance in Construction Industry ................................................................. 2
1.1.2 Construction Waste Management Practices ..................................................................... 2
1.1.3 Construction Industry in Kenya ....................................................................................... 4
1.2 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................................... 5
1.3 Objectives of the Study ........................................................................................................ 6
1.3.1 General Objectives ........................................................................................................... 6
1.3.2 Specific Objectives ........................................................................................................... 6
1.4 Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 7
1.5 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................................... 7
1.6 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................................... 8
1.7 Limitations of Study ............................................................................................................ 8
1.8 Organization of the Study .................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 10
LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 10
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 10
2.2 Theoretical Literature Review ........................................................................................... 10
2.2.1 Theory of Constraints ..................................................................................................... 10
2.2.2 Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) Theory ..................................................................... 11
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2.2.3 Balance Theory of Recycling ......................................................................................... 12
2.2.4 Resource Based View Theory ........................................................................................ 13
2.3 Empirical Literature Review .............................................................................................. 14
2.3.1 Project Design and Project Performance ........................................................................ 14
2.3.2 Procurement Practice and Project Performance ............................................................. 16
2.3.3 Material Handling and Project Performance .................................................................. 17
2.3.4 Reuse, Reduce, Recycle Practices and Project Performance ......................................... 19
2.4 Summary of Literature Reviewed and Research Gaps ...................................................... 21
2.5 Conceptual Framework ...................................................................................................... 23
CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 24
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 24
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 24
3.2 Research Design................................................................................................................. 24
3.3 Target Population ............................................................................................................... 24
3.4 Sampling Design and Sampling Size ................................................................................. 25
3.5 Data Collection Instruments .............................................................................................. 25
3.6 Pilot Study.......................................................................................................................... 25
3.6.1 Validity of the Instruments............................................................................................. 25
3.6.2 Reliability of the Instruments ......................................................................................... 26
3.7 Data Collection Procedure ................................................................................................. 26
3.8 Data Analysis and Presentation ......................................................................................... 27
3.9 Ethical Consideration ......................................................................................................... 28
CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................... 29
RESEARCH FINDINGS AN DISCUSSIONS ......................................................................... 29
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 29
4.2 Response Rate .................................................................................................................... 29
4.3 Background Information .................................................................................................... 29
4.3.1 Distribution of Respondents by Gender ......................................................................... 30
4.3.2 Distribution of Respondents by Age .............................................................................. 30
4.3.3 Respondents’ Level of Education .................................................................................. 31
4.3.4 Respondents’ Work Experience ..................................................................................... 32
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4.4 Descriptive Statistics .......................................................................................................... 32
4.4.1 Project Design ................................................................................................................ 32
4.4.2 Procurement and Project Performance ........................................................................... 34
4.4.3 Material Handling .......................................................................................................... 36
4.4.4 Reuse, Recycle and Reduce Practices ............................................................................ 37
4.4.5 Project Performance ....................................................................................................... 39
4.5 Inferential Statistics ........................................................................................................... 40
4.5.1 Correlation Analysis ....................................................................................................... 40
4.5.2 Regression Analysis ....................................................................................................... 42
4.6 Qualitative Analysis ........................................................................................................... 45
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................ 47
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................. 47
5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 47
5.2 Summary of Findings ......................................................................................................... 47
5.3 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................ 48
5.4 Recommendations for Policy and Practice ........................................................................ 49
5.5 Recommendations for Further Studies............................................................................... 51
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 52
APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 56
Appendix I: Letter of Introduction ................................................................................................ 56
Appendix II: Questionnaire........................................................................................................... 57
Appendix III: Research Authorization .......................................................................................... 61
Appendix IV: Research Permit ..................................................................................................... 62
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.7: Reuse, Recycle and Reduce Practices on Project Performance ................................... 38
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LIST OF FIGURES
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ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
UK United Kingdom
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OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Construction Waste Construction materials that are lost in transit on or off site,
constructed facility.
change
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Recycle Process of converting waste materials into reusable materials and
objects
importance to an organization.
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ABSTRACT
The increase of construction activities due to development in developing countries increases the
generation of construction waste. Effective waste management services can save business money
and benefit the environment at the same time. However, the Nairobi City County faces many
challenges to manage construction waste disposal such as insufficiently stringent legislation, poor
enforcement, inadequate facilities and collection network, low public awareness and lack of
capacity and negligent behaviour of local contractors due to lack of proper construction waste
control and monitoring by the Nairobi City County. This study sought to investigate the influence
of construction waste management practices on the performance of housing and water projects in
Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study sought to establish how project design, procurement,
material handling and reuse, reduce, recycle practices influences housing and water projects. A
descriptive survey research design was used. 95 housing and water construction projects formed
the target population. A census of 285 respondents was carried out. Questionnaire was used to
collect primary data. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such
as correlation analysis and regression analysis. The study established that project design, material
handling, procurement and reuse, recycle and reduce practices had a positive and significant effects
on the performance of housing and water projects. The study concludes that project design
strengthens the owner’s control of the entire design process and minimizes the risks in finance by
contracting with a single firm that is unconditionally committed to the success of the project.
Procurement helps the organization maintain quality and consistency, effectively, drive
compliance and manage risk. Materials handling ensures that the right quality and quantity of
materials are appropriately selected, purchased, delivered and handled on site in a timely manner
and at a reasonable cost. Reuse, recycle and reduce practices are vital part in any waste
management strategy because they help reduce waste handling and disposal costs, by avoiding the
cost of recycling, land filling and combustion. The study recommends that Waste prevention and
reduction in the design phases, project design should focus on reuse and recycling, waste-efficient
procurement, materials optimization, off-site construction; and deconstruction and flexibility.
Prospective contractors should be required in their tenders to indicate the likely waste recovery
targets and key performance indicators that can be achieved on the project given the stage of the
design. Government should introduce specific legislation governing the handling and disposal of
construction wastes and follow up with strict monitoring to ensure compliance. The most effective
environmental solution may often be to reduce the generation of waste and the amount of waste
created using waste prevention measures. Re-use materials to avoid waste being created and where
further reduction is not practicable, products and materials can sometimes be re-used, either for
the same or a different purpose. Recycle materials from site where materials cannot be re-used and
value should be recovered from waste, through recycling, composting or energy recovery from
waste.
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The construction industry is mostly concerned with unique projects which creates difficulties for
effective management control (Aretoulis, Kalfakakou and Striagka, 2010). According to Collins
and Baccarini (2011) the construction process may be considered the most complex undertaking
in any industry. Indeed, construction is a product-oriented activity that has many dimensions. The
business aspects of construction require the establishment of contractual relationships with a wide
range of parties. Adeyinka, Jagboro, Ojo and Odediran (2013) highlight to the complexity of
construction projects because they bring together professionals within the industry to form an
organizational team. Therefore, professionals should continue to uphold good ethical conducts, for
The construction industry is one in which significant amounts of waste are generated which have
deleterious effects on the health and safety of persons as well as the environment. Lu and Yuan
(2011) report waste levels of 15-25 percent common in the literature pertaining to construction
industry’s contribution to industrial waste. Medineckiene, Turskis and Zavadskas (2010) observe
that common waste generated by the construction sector include; solid waste such as concrete,
brickwork, stone, metals (particularly steel), timber and glass. These wastes are generated in
workshops where work is being prepared for construction sites, at construction sites and by the
The construction industry permeates most of the economic sectors as it transforms various
resources into the constructed infrastructure necessary for socio-economic development. However,
despite its relevance for society, it is acknowledged that construction activities impact the natural
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environment (Fuertes et al. 2013). According to Li and Zhang (2013) construction waste has
become an important issue, due to its increasing generation and to its potential adverse effects on
the environment. In addition, although construction waste is mostly inert, lack of management
practices focused on reuse, recycling and other recovery alternatives reduces landfill space and
Crawford and Bryce (2013) observe that a project is only successful if it comes on schedule, on
budget, it achieves the deliverables originally set for it and it is accepted and used by the clients
for whom the project was intended. Evaluating project performance means is based on projects
completed on time and within the allocated budget, making sure the project contributes to the
suffer from significant under management of risk in practically all stages of the value chain and
According to Doloi (2011), estimating is the primary function of the construction industry; the
accuracy of cost estimates starting from early phase of a project through the tender estimate can
affect the success or failure of a construction project. Many failures of construction projects are as
a result of cost escalations. The increasing complexity of infrastructure and the environment within
which projects are constructed places greater demand on construction managers to deliver projects
on time, within the planned budget and with high quality (Enshasi et al., 2009).
Cheung (2013) stated that construction waste can be defined as the by-product generated and
removed from construction, renovation and demolition workplaces or sites of building and civil
engineering structures. Formoso et al. (2014) argue that any inefficiency that results in the use of
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equipment, materials, labour, or capital in larger quantities than those considered necessary in the
production of a building. Waste can be generated by mistakes, working out of sequence, redundant
activity and movement, delayed or premature inputs and products or services that do not meet
customer needs.
Johnston and Mincks (2011) proposed an integrated construction waste management plan that
transforming waste into new products and reincorporating them into the construction process.
Reuse means salvaging construction waste for other uses. Source reduction would be the best and
most efficient way in minimizing construction waste. Hill and Bowen (2012) acknowledge reduced
materials use, maximized reuse and recycling of resources, and use of renewable resources in their
According to Berry and McCarthy (2011) procurement systems deal with risk allocation between
the contractor and the employer. In a lump-sum contract, the risk allocation is regarded as fairer
and more balanced in the perspective of employers because the employer has a better control in
terms of the performance of the contractor and change management along the project. The roles
and responsibilities are well defined and differentiated for the professionals who work in the
project under this procurement system, particularly for the design–and-construction processes.
The construction industry is ranked first in European Union statistics for waste production and
second in Sweden after mining and quarrying (Eurostat, 2016). Waste is produced by demolition,
which is frequent in refurbishment projects; it is produced also from poor materials handling
practices, design changes and inaccurate documents (Fadiya et al., 2014). Hao et al (2013) pointed
out that waste management in construction activities should start from the design and the
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procurement phases and, then, extend to onsite technologies and plans. Project designers should
spend some time on considering how to reduce waste generation through reasonable design
The construction sector in Kenya is very important for the Kenyan economy because it contributes
close to 5 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing more than one
million people. According to report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the economy
of Kenya grew by 4.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 due to the improved productivity in the
construction industry. This can be attributed to higher public investment in infrastructure by the
Kenya has engaged in deliberate effort to improve the construction sector since attaining her
independence in 1963. In 1967, through an Act of Parliament, the Kenyan government set up a
management. The main function of NCC was to “promote, assist, and develop the construction
industry” (Republic of Kenya, NCC Act 1972). Unfortunately, despite the best of efforts, NCC
collapsed in 1988. The issues the industry was facing had only gotten bigger and more dynamic
with changing times. Intense lobbying on the part of stakeholders in the industry finally led to the
enactment of the National Construction Authority Act in 2011. The Act was assented to on 2nd
December 2011 and operationalized on 8th June 2012. The National Construction Authority
Regulations, which operationalize the Act, were passed on June 6th, 2014.
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Currently, the government’s policy guidelines for various sectors in the economy are contained in
the development plans published by the Ministry of Economic Planning every five years. The
Construction industry in Kenya is one of major industry contributing significantly to the socio-
economic development growth. Olawale and Sun (2010) indicate that most construction projects
especially in Kenya are exposed to extreme cost escalation menace to the extent that it calls not
only for extra funding but also specialized expertise hence leading to technical and project
managerial conflicts between project’s parties. Although the government of Kenya sets aside huge
sums of money to be spent in construction sector, the industry is facing a lot of challenges such as
the expenditure exceeding the budget, delay to complete the project in time, the building defects
growing concern for the effect of man’s activities on the environment. The increase of construction
waste. Effective waste management services can save your business money and benefit the
environment at the same time. However, the Nairobi City County faces many challenges to manage
construction waste disposal. These include insufficiently stringent legislation, poor enforcement,
inadequate facilities and collection network, low public awareness and lack of capacity and
negligent behaviour of local contractors due to lack of proper construction waste control and
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A study carried out by Ya’cob, Zawawi, Isa and Othman (2013) examined factors that affect
sustainable construction waste management efforts at site and found that lack of law enforcement
from the Government led to the contractor not following the standard. However, the study used
purposive sampling method. Osman, Nawi and Osman (2016) carried out a study on the
effectiveness of construction waste management and its relationship with project performance and
established that some of industry stakeholders do not realize that proper waste management will
increase the project performance. However, the study used qualitative data. Trigunarsyah, Sofyan
and Hendi (2016) study examined the housekeeping management as a strategy to minimize
construction waste in high rise building projects and found that on-site activities on construction
waste minimization can be integrated into the house-keeping management of the project site.
However, the study used cross-sectional research design. Therefore, this study sought to
The general objective of this study was to investigate the influence of construction waste
management practices on the performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County,
Kenya.
i. To establish the influence of project design on the performance of housing and water
ii. To identify the influence of procurement on the performance of housing and water
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iii. To examine the influence of material handling on the performance of housing and water
iv. To investigate the influence of re-use, recycle and reduce practices on the performance
i. What is the influence of project design on the performance of housing and water
ii. What is the influence of procurement on the performance of housing and water projects
iii. What is the influence of material handling on the performance of housing and water
iv. How do re-use, recycle and reduce practices influence the performance of housing and
The study would bring insight to the project managers and project team members in the
construction industry in Kenya as they would be able to know the challenges and strategies that
can be applied to achieve efficiency and effectiveness waste management in construction projects
and ways of overcoming the risks involved. The study would enable policy makers in Nairobi City
County, other counties and the national government in obtaining knowledge in proper ways in
managing waste in the construction industry and therefore obtain guidance from the findings of
this study in designing appropriate policies that favours the industry. The study would also add to
the body of knowledge on proper management practices of construction material waste in the
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1.6 Scope of the Study
This study focused on housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study
focused how project design, procurement, material handling and re-use, recycle and reduce
practices on performance of completed housing and water projects for the last 5 years (2013 –
2017). Project managers and project team members working in the county construction projects
The study was limited by fear of respondents to disclose relevant information for the study.
However, the researcher overcame this by assuring the respondents of strict confidentiality of any
information disclosed and explaining the purpose of the study. Also, the study was conducted using
predetermined questionnaires which could limit the respondents from expressing their views freely
and widely. To overcome this, the researcher designed questionnaire with both open and closed
ended questions.
This study was organized in five chapters. Chapter one constitutes the background of the study,
statement of the problem, objectives, significance, scope, limitations and organization of the study.
Chapter two comprises of the theoretical literature review, empirical literature review, summary
of literature review and research gaps and conceptual framework. Chapter three encompasses the
methodology which presents the research design, target population, sampling design, research
instrument, data collection procedure, data analysis and ethical considerations. Chapter four
constitutes the research findings and discussion which presents the response rate, background
information, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and analysis of qualitative data. Chapter
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five presents the summary, conclusion, recommendations for policy and practice, and
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
This chapter deals with theoretical literature review, empirical literature review, summary of
Eliyahu developed the theory of constraints in the early 1980s to help organizations decide what
to change, identify a desirable new condition and how to trigger the change. He recommended first
identifying the main factors affecting budget estimates in an organisation. He then suggested that
the managers figure out how to handle the constraints or barrier to success within prescribed
budget. By focusing on fixing the main problem, overall performance could be improved (Eliyahu,
2004). Additionally, Baloi and Price (2003) observed that most organizations fail to examine their
operations as a whole when developing cost estimates. By focusing only on short-term goals, long-
Theory of Constraints which opines that an organization facing challenges in cost management,
poor performance and chronic conflicts is as a result of poor management practices and lack of
necessary intervention. According to this theory, all systems operate in an environment of cause
and effect. One event causes another to happen thus prompting for factors analysis as a measure.
Adherence to cost estimates is either a constraint or has the potential to become a constraint. This
cause-and- effect relationship can be very complex, especially in complex systems such as those
of construction projects. Capturing the essence of cause and effect within the system and
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identifying factors that emulate these relationships are the keys to system performance and
This theory is relevant to the study as it shows it is a systematic and iterative approach to
management that emphasizes adapting business practices in order to best cope with limitations, or
constraints, that stand in the way of key objectives. The goal of TOC is to maximize the efficiency
of a process selectively at the most critical points and thereby maximize profitability, quality, or
other corporate objectives. Therefore, construction companies in Kenya should consider key areas
within the organization for competitive improvement, key technologies and techniques,
materials.
This study was guided by Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) advocated by Williamson (1981) who
argues that Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) theory ensures that costs across the supply chain are
kept at a minimal. Transaction cost approach has been widely used in different areas, especially in
economics and organizational studies. In the early 1970s, the mathematical economist,
Williamson, incorporated TCA into the general equilibrium model and set up his transaction cost
Halldorsson (2007) suggests that organizations can reduce their transaction costs by vertical
integration and increasing the level of trust at the same time. This kind of integration can reduces
the costs of inventory management while increasing the service level of both internal and external
customers while releasing capital to be used in other areas of the organization. Organizational
supply chain can however reduce transaction not only through vertical integration and increasing
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the level of trust among supply chain participants, but also though horizontal integration and
This theory is relevant to the study as it shows that organizations should minimize their cost of
transaction so as to increase their revenue generation. These costs should be obtained from the
market rather than having it provided from within the firm. Therefore, organizational managers
must weigh the internal transaction costs and against external transaction costs during material
handling practice before the company decides whether or not to keep some activities in-house.
This study was guided by balance theory of recycling advocated by Wong and Yip (2002). The
Balance Theory rouses construction workers to adopt the idea of reduction of wastes. They are
educated to clean their working places constantly and collect all construction wastes they generated
into separate collection spots within the construction site. According to Alexander (2008), the site
management personnel is required to establish site facilities and set up conditions in employment
contracts and subcontracts for workers and subcontractors to follow. The culture of separating
wastes at sources must be established and widely adopted so that Balance Theory could be realised
Balance Theory of recycling advocates the amount of wastes generated from a construction project
and sent for recycling process must be equivalent (or proportional) to the amount of the recycled
Construction and Demolition (C&D) products imported and used as construction materials for that
project (Poon et al, 2011). Zero C&D wastes sent to landfill may be too idealistic, however,
The theory advocates that the amount of wastes generated from a construction project and sent for
recycling process must be equivalent (or proportional) to the amount of the recycled Construction
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and Demolition (C&D) products imported and used as construction materials for that project.
Though the construction industry produces quite significant amount of C&D wastes, they can be
recycled, reduced and re-used into construction projects and benefit the community as a whole.
This study was guided by Resource Based View theory as proposed by Barney (1991). Barney
(1991) states that a firm is a collection of physical capital resources, human capital resources and
organizational resources. The core premise of the resource-based view is that organizational
resources and capabilities can vary significantly across firms, and that these differences can be
stable. The theory focuses on the idea of costly-to-copy attributes of the firm as sources of business
returns and the means to achieve superior performance and competitive advantage.
Chandler (1990) indicates that organizational capabilities emanates from lower management,
middle and top management and that a firm can gain competitive advantage when its resources
and capabilities are used properly. He further states that if these organization capabilities were
carefully synchronized and assimilated it could achieve the economies of scale and scope needed
Barney (1991) states that, “sustainable competitive advantage is derived from resources that are
valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable (due to path-dependence, causal ambiguity, and social
complexity), and no substitutable”. A resource-based view of the firm accepts that attributes
related to past experiences, organizational culture and competences are critical for the success of
the firm.
This theory is relevant to the study because it shows that construction companies manage their
waste on the basis of their resources and capabilities. A firm resource must, in addition, be
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valuable, rare, and imperfectly imitable and substitutable in order to be source of effective
management of construction wastes. Resources may increase the company’s capacity for proper
management of wastes and, thus, contribute to project performance by helping the firm to
appropriate the value. Furthermore, resources may be used to erect entry barriers and so increase
Love (2010) in their study noted that a mistake made in design could result in errors in procurement
and construction, thereby leading to rework and subsequent waste generation. It is,
therefore, important that construction project lifecycle is evaluated from system perspective in
order to develop causal loops and feedback system of such interdependent processes. This
could help in understanding impacts of one activity on the others, as well as on the overall project
outcome.
Yu et al. (2010) through their study on design build projects in Hong Kong reveal that existing
systems for project development have limitations. Lack of impartial agents and improper timing
for raising requirements by key stakeholders are problems with existing systems. Aftab, Rahman,
Abdullah and Azis (2010) stated that fluctuation in price of material, cash flow and financial
difficulties faced by contractors, shortage of site workers, lack of communication between parties,
incorrect planning and scheduling by contractors are most severe factors while frequent design
changes and owner interference are least affecting factors on construction cost performance.
A study carried by Osmani (2012) noted that about 33per cent of construction waste occurs because
of design-related factors. This implies that attempts to tackle waste at design stage would result in
substantial reduction in waste. On the other hand, a study carried out by Osmani (2012) found that
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waste management legislation has been practically non-existing with respect to design stage,
despite the understanding that some causes of waste are design related. As the legislation
continuously drives waste management strategy, it is expected that minimum benchmark is set for
projects, while the waste preventive standard is also set for design stage.
Kibuchi and Muchungu (2012) discovered that despite the high quality of training of consultants
in the building industry in Kenya and regulation of the industry in major urban areas, construction
projects do not always meet their goals. This is manifested by myriad projects that have cost
overrun, delayed completion period and poor quality resulting to collapsed buildings in various
parts of the country, high maintenance costs, dissatisfied clients and even buildings which are not
functional.
In a survey of 139 projects, Lopez and Love (2012) estimated direct and indirect design error costs
at 6.85 percent and 7.36 percent of project cost respectively. Errors and omissions in designs lead
to claims and conflict in projects. Design quality control and assurance, effective communication,
and post-design inspection are management techniques that lead project to engineering success.
Osmani (2013) in their study found that the best approach for tackling waste is through dedicated
efforts at the design stage of building delivery process. The study concluded that there is still low
acceptance and use of recycled products within the construction industry due to a low commitment
from designers who drive materials selection and sustainability practices within the industry.
Based on these findings, and in order to understand the procedural approach to designing out waste
through dedicated design effort, this study focuses ways to seek to aggregate the design factors
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2.3.2 Procurement Practice and Project Performance
Love et al (2008), through their research into public sector procurement method selection in
Queensland and Western Australia, espoused the notion that “the continual use of traditional lump
sum may stifle technological innovation, particularly the design and constructability of public
sector buildings.” Indeed, since 2000 the relationship between build-ability and procurement
method has been widely discussed, with most authors in agreement that fully integrated
procurement methods such as design and build and project management are most appropriate for
Sabiti, Basheka and Muhumuza (2011) in their study conducted in Uganda on developing public
the authors note how proper planning may influence procurement performance. The key to
accountability is the capacity to select the best contractors within the public sector. The internal
contractor selection process of government, procurement and personnel have long received
sustained attention as the centerpiece of reforms to promote accountability. The study found that
problems of accountability arise when government ignore or transgress social ethics and
constitutional and legal provisions in conducting public affairs, administrative systems are
A study carried out by Oluka (2013) on the challenges of procurement, posits that restricted
tendering is a procurement method that limits the request for tenders to a select number of
contractors. According to the PPDA Regulation 2014, the restricted procurement method is a two-
stage process. The first stage the employer advertises his project and invites contractors to express
interest to be placed on a selected list of contractors who will be invited to bid for the project. In
creating a nexus between the earlier study and the proposed study, it is imperative that when
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contractors applying should be given a list of information, and information got about them in order
to pre-qualify. Stage two the shortlisted contractors who meet the selection criteria should be
A study carried out by Mbalangu (2013) on compliance monitoring and procurement performance
carried out in Uganda notes that supplier contractor monitoring has slowly become an important
component for effective supplier relationship management that is directly linked to securing the
supply of key commodities needed for sustaining business. On the other hand, Kansiime (2014) in
his study on the impact of public procurement reforms on service delivery in Uganda notes that
monitoring of this formalized relationship allows an organisation a degree of control over the
Schmitz and Platts (2014) in their study conducted in Ghana did investigate the procurement
reforms in Ghana. They assert that the main aim of contracting is to ensure that goods or services
are delivered on time, at the agreed cost and at the specified requirements. It means developing
effective working relationships with your suppliers, ensuring effective service delivery,
maximising value for money and providing consistent quality for stakeholders and end users. The
study also established that the primary goal for contractor monitoring within any company is to
ensure that commitments and obligations to customers and suppliers are clearly visible to the
relevant people in the organization and that they are executed upon.
Previous studies have identified that building materials often require a large storage capacity which
is rarely available on site (Agapiou et al. 2009; Bell & Stukhart, 2011). However, Stukhart (1995)
suggested that there are a few considerations to take in the planning of the storage space such as
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timing of the initial buy, and historical information and experience. Materials management on site
should seek to reduce loss of profit due to theft, damage and wastage, as well as running out of
stock. It is also important to ensure that the right quality and quantity of materials and installed
equipment are appropriately specified in a timely manner, are obtained at a reasonable cost, and
According to Chan (2012) material handling equipment selection is an important function as it can
enhance the production process, provide effective utilization of manpower, increase production
and improve system flexibility. Material storage on site requires close attention in order to avoid
waste, loss and any damage of materials which would affect the operation of the construction
project. Problems always arise during materials supply because of improper storage and protection
facilities. The importance of appropriate handling of materials is highlighted by the fact that they
are expensive and engage critical decisions. Due to the frequency of handling materials there are
A study carried out by Ogunlana (2014) found that the main reasons for project delays on housing
organisation, shortages of construction materials, and inefficiencies in site workers. Dey (2014)
also found that delays in materials supply was a major cause of time overrun of construction
projects in India. Thus, it would seem that materials delays are a major cause of delays in projects.
Lwanga (2014) in his study focused on the investigation on re-using construction waste for
sustainable development with particular attention to concrete waste. Much of the research has in
the past concentrated on household waste with little attention to other sectors such as construction.
A study by Edema et al. (2011) revealed that a study on the Copperbelt province of Zambia showed
18
that lack of environmentally friendly, sustainable and affordable waste management had led to the
wide spread open dumping and open burning of solid waste. In another study that included Zambia
and reported in the Africa Review Report on waste management (2013), it was concluded that poor
waste management practices in particular the widespread dumping of wastes in water bodies and
uncontrolled dump sites aggravates the problems of generally low sanitation levels across the
African continent.
A study carried out by Solanke (2015) found that scheduling delays occurred in 70 percent, 40
percent and 50 percent of government contracted construction projects in the United Kingdom,
India, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) respectively due to improper material management.
Currently all over the globe the main reason in cost variance and problematic management of
material are due to overstocked construction materials because of improper planning, damaged
because of improper supervision, waiting of the construction materials to arrive in location due to
According to Hore, Kehoe, McMillan and Penton (2010), for every 100 houses built there is
enough waste material to build another 10 houses. Similarly Akinpelu (2013) study found that on
most capital projects resources from which wastes are generated account for more than 60per cent
of their production costs. As concerns grow over the amount of waste generated in the construction
industry, recycling has been identified as one of the most feasible way to overcome construction
19
In a study conducted on Turkish construction sites, Polat and Ballard (2010) established that
minimisation is the best and most effective method of reducing the generation of waste and
eliminating many of the waste generation problems. Greenwood et al. (2012) study found that the
top priority in minimising waste is to avoid waste through designing out or reducing waste at the
source and proposed three key project stages where waste minimisation initiative should be
introduced; contractual, design and site execution stages. The study recommended that
construction firms must develop or adopt effective waste minimisation strategies in order to solve
A study carried out by Mason (2010) found that it is estimated that in the UK, a recycling rate of
around 45per cent has been achieved for construction and demolition waste; by contrast the
Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, have achieved ninety percent, eighty seven percent and eighty
one percent, respectively. The study recommended that the success of any recycling initiative
depends upon a market for Construction and Demolition (CD) Waste being available. In turn, this
depends upon the next user’s confidence in the material with respect to its quality, sufficiency,
Akinkurolere and Franklin (2015) carried out an Investigation into Waste Management on
Construction Sites in South Western Nigeria. The study focused on the dangers posed by material
waste in the construction industry, ways of minimizing construction waste, ways of keeping proper
site records for accountability sake and recommend effective waste management measures. The
study adopted questionnaires to collect data from construction professionals, and employed tables
and statistical indices for the data analysis. The study revealed that material wastage increase the
cost of construction project and reduce contractor’s profit and attributed construction was to poor
20
management and lack of effective waste management awareness. The study recommended that
21
Cherutic E-waste mobile phone The study Re-use,
h (2013). management in GPN in did not recycle and
Kenya: A case Kenya reuse, reduce on
study of mobile includes post reduce and project
phone waste in consumption recycling performanc
Nairobi
activities practices on e
where mobile E-waste
phone E- managemen
waste are t of mobile
recycled and phones
exported.
22
2.5 Conceptual Framework
Figure 2.1 shows a conceptual framework which depicts the relationship between the independent
variable and the dependent variable; it was based on four independent variables and one dependent
variable. The independent variables are project design, procurement, material handling, reuse,
reduce, recycle practices and the dependent variable is the performance of construction projects
Independent Variables
Project Design
• Specification
• Problem identification
• Objective setting
Dependent Variable
Procurement Project Performance
• Item specification • Quality
• Ordering process • Timeliness
• Quantity survey • Cost effective
• Efficiency
Material Handling
• Storage
• Transportation
• Theft
23
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This chapter comprises of the Research Design, Target Population, Sampling Procedures and
Sample Size, Research Instrument, Pilot Study, Data Collection Techniques, Data Analysis and
Ethical Consideration.
This study was carried out through a descriptive survey research design and explanatory research
survey research design was chosen because it enabled the researcher to generalise the findings to
a larger population and it was more precise and accurate since it involves description of events in
The target population under study comprised of 95 housing and waster construction projects in
Nairobi County (Nairobi County report, 2017). The study involved 3 permanent staff from each
construction project as they were able to provide informative details concerning the research.
Therefore, the total respondents were 285. This is shown in Table 3.1.
Total 95 285
24
3.4 Sampling Design and Sampling Size
As observed by Gay (2002), a sample is selected which can be representative of the total population
because of various constraints that may face the researcher in accessing the whole population. On
the other hand, Mugenda and Mugenda, (2003), observe that in a situation where the study
population there is no need to sample otherwise the total population should be studied. Therefore,
This study used questionnaire as a data collection tool to all the respondents. Orodho (2005)
defines a questionnaire as an instrument used to gather data, which allows a measurement for or
against a particular viewpoint. The author emphasizes that a questionnaire has the ability to collect
a large amount of information in a reasonably quick space of time. The instrument was
chosen because the targeted population was literate which minimized the interpretation of the
questions for their understanding to capture reliable information. The questionnaires were divided
into different sections covering the objectives of the study. Likert scale was used in questions
which tested on the degree of the respondents’ agreement with particular variables of the study.
According to Kothari (2004), a pilot test is necessary for testing the reliability of data collection
instruments. The aim of the pilot study was to test the reliability of the questionnaires. Pilot study
was conducted to detect weakness in design and instrumentation and to provide proxy data for
selection of a sample. The pilot study was conducted to 10 respondents who did not participate in
25
Validity is the degree to which the research instruments was appropriately and accurately measure
what they are supposed to measure (Orodho, 2005). Content validity was done to ascertain clarity
and simplicity. The researcher used clear wording of the questions by using terms that are likely
to be familiar to, and understood by the respondents. The researcher engaged his supervisor as the
research expert to ascertain whether the content of the research instrument were up to standard.
Cronbach’s alpha test was used to measure the internal consistency of the research instrument by
used to measure an objective under different categories and estimates the extent to which scores
vary in different variables attributed chance or random errors (Reid, 2006). The author further
shows that for the instruments to be reliable the correlation coefficient must be greater than 0.7.
This study obtained a correlation coefficient of 0.744 which showed that the instruments are
reliable for data collection as recommended by Mugenda and Mugenda (2003). This is shown in
Table 3.2.
26
Top level management were contacted to affirm the intention for carrying out the study on the
organization and to clarify the significant of the study and the commitment required from the
management. Research assistants were employed to administer the questionnaires which were
dropped to each respondent and picked later after two weeks. The researcher made a follow up
through phone calls and in addition, visited the respondents before the stated period to remind
This study obtained both quantitative data and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed
using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation and presented in tables, charts and
graphs. These were generated using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0.
Content analysis technique was used to analyze qualitative data collected using interview
schedules.
The study used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test the level of significant of the variables on
the dependent variable at 95per cent confidence level. In addition, the study conducted a multiple
regression analysis to test the relationship between independent variables and dependent variable.
X2= Procurement
27
ε is the error term.
In this study the researcher acquired a permit from the National Commission for Science,
Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) and an introduction letter from the University before
proceeding to the study area. Participants were given adequate information on the aims of the
research, the procedure that would be followed, the credibility of the researcher and the way in
which the results were used. This enabled participants to make an informed decision on whether
they want to participate in the study or not. Participant confidentialities were not compromised as
28
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Introduction
The chapter discusses major findings as per the research objectives. Quantitative approach was
used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were presented in terms of
Out of 285 questionnaires that were distributed to the respondents, 212 were successfully filled
and taken back. This represented a response rate of 74.4 per cent as shown in Table 4.1. Nachmias
(2009) observed that a response rate exceeding 50 per cent is sufficient for analysis and thus, 74.4
per cent return rate, was considered to be very good. This commendable response rate was
attributed to the data collection procedure, where the researcher engaged researcher assistants to
administer questionnaires.
The study sought to establish the background information of the respondents in terms of their
29
4.3.1 Distribution of Respondents by Gender
The study sought to determine the gender of the respondents; the findings are presented in Figure
4.1.
Majority of those who participated in the study were male respondents who accounted for 54.25
per cent while female constituted 45.75 per cent. This means that there could be gender disparity
in some projects.
The study sought to determine the gender of the respondents; the findings are presented in Figure
4.1.
30
According to the findings, majority of the respondents were between the ages of 25 to 34 years as
represented by 35.8 per cent. 34.9 per cent of the respondents were between 35 to 44 years, 24.1
per cent aged 45 years and above and 5.2 per cent aged less than 25 years old. The cumulative
frequency of 75.9 per cent show that majority of the respondents were aged 35 years and above.
This shows that the study participants were obtained from different age gaps.
The study sought to determine the respondents’ level of education; the findings are presented in
Figure 4.2.
According to the results as shown in Figure 4.2, majority of the respondents had attained a
Bachelors degree level of education as represented by 44.81 per cent, 27.36 per cent had Master’s
degree, 17.92 per cent Post graduate diploma and 9.91 per cent diploma certificate. According to
the findings it can be deduced that waste management requires educated individuals with specific
31
4.3.4 Respondents’ Work Experience
The study sought to determine the respondents’ years of experience; the findings are presented in
Table 4.3.
of 10 to 15 years as represented by 34.4 per cent, 27.4 per cent between 5 to 9 years, 23.6 per cent
for over 15 years and 14.6 per cent for less than 5 years. The cumulative frequency of 76.4 per
cent indicated that majority of the respondents had worked for more than 10 years.
Descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations were used to present that quantitative
data with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. It was based on
study variables which were project design, procurement, material handling, reuse, reduce and
The study sought to establish the extent to which project design influence the performance of
housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The findings are presented in Table
4.4.
32
Table 4.4: Project Design and Project Performance
and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya to a great extent as shown by aggregate score
of 3.45 with significance variance of 1.349. Majority of the respondents strongly agreed on the
statements that specifications are detailed and devoid of under/over ordering and waste
management plan is prepared along with the design as expressed by a mean score of 4.11 and 3.78
respectively which varied significantly as indicated by the standard deviation of 0.994 and 1.217
respectively. These findings concur with the findings of Osmani (2012) who noted that about 33
per cent of construction waste occurs because of design-related factors. This implies that attempts
The respondents also agreed on the statements that awareness of material quantity, quality and
durability and knowledge and ability to design for standard materials supply influences
33
performance of housing and water projects to great extent as shown by mean of 3.47 and 3.22
respectively with a respective significance variance of 1.436 and 1.525. These findings are in line
with the findings of Aftab et al (2010) who stated that fluctuation in price of material, cash flow
and financial difficulties faced by contractors, shortage of site workers, lack of communication
between parties, incorrect planning and scheduling by contractors are most severe factors while
frequent design changes and owner interference are least affecting factors on construction cost
performance.
The respondents also indicated that ability to coordinate dimensions of building elements and
components and specify durable materials to avoid need for early replacement influences
performance of housing and water projects to a moderate extent as represented by a mean of 3.11
and 3.02 respectively and a significance variance of 1.385 and 1.539. These findings contradicts
with the findings of Osmani (2013) who established that the best approach for tackling waste is
through dedicated efforts at the design stage of building delivery process. Love (2010) also noted
that a mistake made in design could result in errors in procurement and construction, thereby
The study sought to establish the extent to which procurement influence the performance of
housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The findings are presented in Table
4.5.
34
Table 4.5: Procurement and Project Performance
procurement influences performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya.
This varied significantly as shown by a standard deviation of 1.450. Majority of the respondents
agreed on the statements that ordering material with high content recycled material, supplier
flexibility in providing small quantities of materials, procurement route that minimizes packaging
and planning for good delivery schedule onsite influences performance of housing and water
construction projects to a great extent as shown by mean score of 3.38, 3.23, 3.20 and 3.17
respectively. These varied significantly as indicated a standard deviation of 1.647, 1.547, 1.632
and 1.243 respectively. These findings agree with the findings of Schmitz and Platts (2014) who
observe that the main aim of contracting is to ensure that goods or services are delivered on time,
at the agreed cost and at the specified requirements. It means developing effective working
relationships with your suppliers, ensuring effective service delivery, maximising value for money
35
The study also established that reduced excess order to avoid breakage and vendors that supply
quality and recycled materials influences performance of housing and water construction projects
to a moderate extent as shown by a mean of 2.93 and 2.42 respectively with a variance of 1.241
and 1.390 respectively. These findings contradicts with the findings of Sabiti, Basheka and
Muhumuza (2011) who observe that the key to accountability is the capacity to select the best
contractors within the public sector. The internal contractor selection process of government,
procurement and personnel have long received sustained attention as the centerpiece of reforms to
promote accountability.
The study sought to establish the extent to which material handling influence the performance of
housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The findings are presented in Table
4.6.
Waste Aggregate
Providing Adequate auditing to Score
bins for site access monitor
Use of collecting for and record
safe Prevention wastes for material environme Dedicated
materials of double each of the delivery ntal space for
storage handling of sub- and performan sorting of
facilities materials contractor movement ce onsite waste
N Valid 212 212 212 212 212 212
Missin 0 0 0 0 0 0
g
Mean 3.57 2.52 2.26 2.21 3.44 2.88 2.81
Std. .820 1.468 .679 1.105 1.381 1.382 1.139
Deviation
Source: Survey Data (2018)
36
From the findings, the aggregate score of 2.81 indicates that the respondents were neutral that
material handling affects performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County,
Kenya with a significance variance of 1.139. Majority of the respondents agreed on the statements
that use of safe materials storage facilities and waste auditing to monitor and record environmental
performance onsite as shown by mean score of 3.57 and 3.44 respectively with a respective
variance of 0.820 and 1.381. These findings are in line with the findings of Ogunlana (2014) who
found that the main reasons for project delays on housing projects in Thailand were incomplete
The study established that dedicated space for sorting of waste, prevention of double handling of
materials, providing bins for collecting wastes for each of the sub-contractor and adequate site
access for material delivery and movement moderately influences the performance of housing and
water construction projects as shown by mean score of 2.88, 2.52, 2.26 and 2.21 respectively with
respective mean score of 1.382, 1.468, 0.679 and 1.105. The findings contradicts with the findings
of Edema et al. (2011) who revealed that a study on the Copperbelt province of Zambia showed
that lack of environmentally friendly, sustainable and affordable waste management had led to the
The study sought to establish the extent to which re-use, recycle and reduce practices influence the
performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The findings are
37
Table 4.7: Reuse, Recycle and Reduce Practices on Project Performance
recycle and reduce practices highly influences performance of housing and water projects in
Nairobi City County, Kenya which varied significantly as shown by standard deviation of 1.419.
Majority of the respondents strongly agreed on the statements that ability to identify and integrate
reusable elements into design waste minimization through measures taken in materials
procurement Consideration, and prevention of waste through design activities (designing out
wastes) as shown by mean score of 3.84, 3.83 and 3.79 respectively with respective variance of
1.468, 1.420 and 1.473. These findings are in line with the findings of Polat and Ballard (2010)
established that minimisation is the best and most effective method of reducing the generation of
The respondents also agreed that ability to effectively design for preassembled components,
recycling target is set for every project and reuse material scraps from cutting stock length material
38
into shorter pieces as shown by mean score of 3.69, 3.65 and 3.60 and a significance variance of
1.410, 1.236 and 1.506 respectively. These findings are in line with the findings of Greenwood et
al. (2012) who found that the top priority in minimizing waste is to avoid waste through designing
out or reducing waste at the source and proposed three key project stages where waste
minimization initiative should be introduced; contractual, design and site execution stages.
The study sought to establish the influence of construction waste management practices on the
performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The findings are
Enhances Aggregate
There is Projects are There is no efficiency in Score
accuracy in delivered on cost overruns projects
projects time in projects activities
N Valid 212 212 212 206
Missing 0 0 0 6
Mean 3.68 3.65 3.43 3.14 3.48
Std. Deviation 1.417 1.675 1.591 1.535 1.554
Source: Survey Data (2018)
From the findings, the aggregate score of 3.48 indicates that construction waste management
practices influences the performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya
to a great extent which varied significantly as shown by standard deviation of 1.554. Majority of
the respondents strongly agreed that construction waste management practices leads to accuracy
in projects with a mean of 3.68 which varied significantly as indicated by standard deviation of
1.417. This was followed by statements that Projects are delivered on time, there is no cost
39
overruns in projects and Enhances efficiency in projects activities as shown by mean of 3.65, 3.43
and 3.14 respectively and their respective variance of 1.675, 1.591 and 1.535.
These findings agree with the findings of Johnston and Mincks (2011) who proposed an integrated
construction waste management plan that includes: reduction, recycling, reuse, incinerating,
composting and landfill. Formoso et al. (2014) argue that any inefficiency that results in the use
of equipment, materials, labour, or capital in larger quantities than those considered necessary in
the production of a building. Waste can be generated by mistakes, working out of sequence,
redundant activity and movement, delayed or premature inputs and products or services that do
Correlation analysis was done to show how strongly two variables are related to each other or the
degree of association between the two. The findings are presented in Table 4.9.
40
Reuse,
Recycle and
Project Procuremen Material Reduce
Design t Handling Practices
Project Design Pearson 1 .852** .102 .073
Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .137 .288
N 212 212 212 212
Procurement Pearson .852** 1 .788** -.161*
Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .006 .019
N 212 212 212 212
Material Handling Pearson .102 .788** 1 .823
Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .137 .006 .001
N 212 212 212 212
Reuse, Recycle and Pearson .073 -.161* .823 1
Reduce Practices Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .288 .019 .001
N 212 212 212 212
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
Source: Survey Data (2018)
The Pearson’s r for the correlation between project design and procurement variables is 0.852
which is close to 1 with a significant value of 0.00 which is less than 0.05. This shows a strong
relationship meaning that changes in one variable are strongly correlated with changes in the
second variable. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a strong relationship between project
design and procurement. Procurement is strongly related to material handling (r=0.788, p<0.05)
which means that increase in procurement leads to increase in material handling and vice versa.
The study established that material handling is strongly related to reuse, recycle and reduce
practices (r=0.823, p<0.05) in which it can be concluded that there is a statistically significant
41
correlations between the two variables. That means, increases or decreases in one variable do
The study also revealed a negative correlation between procurement and reuse, recycle and reduce
practices (r=-0.161, p<0.05). This means that changes in one variable are not correlated with
changes in the second variable. It can be concluded that increase in procurement leads to decrease
in procurement and reuse, recycle and reduce practices and vice versa.
Regression analysis was carried out to show which among the independent variables were related
Table 4.10 shows a model summary that provides information about the regression line’s ability
to account for the total variation in the dependent variable. R2 also called the coefficient of
determination, is the measure of how close the data are to the fitted regression line which is 0.609
(60.9 per cent). The adjusted R2, also called the coefficient of multiple determinations, is the
percent of the variance in the dependent explained uniquely or jointly by the independent variables.
0.589 (58.9 per cent) of the changes in the performance of housing and water projects variables
could be attributed to the construction waste management practices. This means that other
42
variables not studied contribute 41.1 per cent of the performance of housing and water projects in
Sum of
Model Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
1 Regression 4.762 4 0.191 5.588 .002a
Residual 419.063 207 2.024
Total 423.825 211
a. Predictors: (Constant), Reuse, Recycle and Reduce Practices, Procurement, Project Design, Material Handling
The probability value of 0.02a indicates that the regression model was highly significant in
predicting how Reuse, Recycle and Reduce Practices, Procurement, Project Design and Material
Handling influenced performance housing and construction projects. The F calculated at 5 per cent
level of significance was 5.588 since F calculated is greater than the F critical (value = 0.191), this
43
Table 4.12: Determination of Coefficients
Standardiz
ed 95.0per cent
Unstandardized Coefficien Confidence Interval
Coefficients ts for B
Lower Upper
Model B Std. Error Beta t Sig. Bound Bound
1 (Constant) 0.781 .494 7.058 .002 2.511 4.457
Project Design .720 .069 3.078 1.042 .001 .064 .207
Material Handling .613 .131 2.140 1.247 .004 .420 .095
Procurement .594 .138 4.066 .683 .003 .178 .366
Reuse, Recycle .860 .085 1.071 .778 .001 .101 .233
and Reduce
Practices
a. Dependent Variable: Project Performance
X3= Procurement
From the results in Table 4.12, holding Project Design, Procurement, Reuse, Reduce and Recycle
Practices and Material Handling, performance of housing and water projects would be 0.781. In
addition, the findings show that a unit increase in project design, material handling, procurement
and reuse, reduce and recycle practices would lead to 0.720, 0.613, 0.594 and 0.860 increase in
performance of housing and water projects respectively. Reuse, recycle and reduce practices had
44
the greatest (86.0per cent) influence on the performance of housing and water projects followed
by project design (72.0per cent), material handling (61.3per cent) and lastly procurement (59.4per
cent).
Hao et al (2013) pointed out that waste management in construction activities should start from
the design and the procurement phases and, then, extend to onsite technologies and plans. Formoso
et al. (2014) argue that any inefficiency that results in the use of equipment, materials, labour, or
capital in larger quantities than those considered necessary in the production of a building.
According to Berry and McCarthy (2011) procurement systems deal with risk allocation between
the contractor and the employer. Johnston and Mincks (2011) proposed an integrated construction
waste management plan that includes: reduction, recycling, reuse, incinerating, composting and
landfill.
The study established that during project design there are communication benefits of working with
a design professional and a construction expert at the same time ensures that potential problems
are discovered before the project starts. Communicating the cost implications of design decisions
ensures that the owner plays a key role in arriving at the final project price. The design build
method helps to remove ambiguity that may arise in material and construction specifications. The
relationship built during the design phase helps to ensure that the stage is set for a successful
construction project.
The study established that procurement facilitate increased collaboration which in turn enhances
of the housing and water project development. Procurement allow an organization to realize
45
immediate upfront cost savings by procuring items, services, and contracts at the best price
available.
major portion to total project cost. It also plays a key role because of the successes of every
construction project rely on having proper resources. Material handling benefit construction
players in improving the efficiency of material management in order to minimize the impacts on
construction projects performance. The availability and sufficient materials and equipment have
Reduce and reuse materials enables the organization gain immediate cost savings by not needing
to purchase as much, or at all. Avoid the production of waste materials where recycling facilities
are not easily accessible or available. Central recycle bins are placed where they are easy to access
and where the waste or recycling materials are likely to be generated. This helps save valuable
46
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Introduction
The chapter presents a summary of the findings, conclusions and recommendations as per the
research objective.
The general objective was to investigate the influence of construction waste management practices
and performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study’s
specific objectives were to establish the influence of project design, material handling,
procurement and reuse, recycle and reduce practices. The respondents comprised of 3 permanent
staff from each project which formed a population of 285 respondents. The summary of the
The first research objective sought to establish the influence of project design on the performance
of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study established that project
design had a positive and significant effect on performance of housing and water projects in
Nairobi City County, Kenya. Project design influence performance of housing and water projects
to a great extent. The study established that specifications are detailed and devoid of under/over
ordering and waste management plan is prepared along with the design which greatly affects the
The second research objective sought to identify the influence of procurement on the performance
of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study established that
procurement had a positive and significant effect and influences performance of projects to
47
moderate extent. Most of the respondents agreed on the statements that ordering material with high
procurement route that minimizes packaging and planning for good delivery schedule onsite
The third research objective sought to examine the influence of material handling on the
performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study established
that material handling had a positive and significant effect on project performance but influences
project performance to a moderate extent. Most of the respondents agreed that use of safe materials
storage facilities and waste auditing to monitor and record environmental performance onsite. The
study also established that there was inadequate site access for material
The fourth research objective sought to investigate the influence of re-use, recycle and reduce
practices on the performance of housing and water projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The
study established that reuse, recycle and reduce practices had a positive and significant effect on
performance and that re-use, recycle and reduce practices highly influenced project performance.
Majority of the respondents strongly agreed on the statements that ability to identify and integrate
reusable elements into design waste minimization through measures taken in materials
procurement Consideration, and prevention of waste through design activities (designing out
wastes).
5.3 Conclusions
Project design strengthens the owner’s control of the entire design process and minimizes the risks
in finance by contracting with a single firm that is unconditionally committed to the success of the
project. Project team can work closely together and accurately conceptualize the completed project
48
at an early stage and evaluate alternative systems, materials and methods efficiently and accurately.
Project design allows resources and attention to be productively focused on cost effective solutions
Procurement helps the organization maintain quality and consistency, effectively, drive
compliance and manage risk. Through procurement, managers can negotiate the best deal by
identifying the projects needs and establishing the most advantageous position for contracts. These
managers evaluate and monitor products and services on an ongoing basis to ensure the outcomes
Materials handling ensures that the right quality and quantity of materials are appropriately
selected, purchased, delivered and handled on site in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost.
opportunities for reducing the overall project costs. On the other hand, materials management can
Reuse, recycle and reduce practices are vital part in any waste management strategy because they
help reduce waste handling and disposal costs, by avoiding the cost of recycling, land filling and
combustion. This involves the reprocessing of waste into a usable raw material or product thus
enabling materials to have an extended life in addition to reducing resource consumption and
projects. Ensuring design decisions prevents waste from being produced in the first place and also
positively improves the recycled content and future recyclability of a project. Waste prevention
49
and reduction in the design phases, project design should focus on reuse and recycling, waste-
flexibility.
In procurement, contractual agreements should be set up between the client, designers, main
contractors and sub-contractors working on the project for effective production of waste.
Prospective contractors should be required in their tenders to indicate the likely waste recovery
targets and key performance indicators that can be achieved on the project given the stage of the
design. The reasons behind this is that the design incorporates good practice levels of waste
minimisation, there will be less potential for waste generation on-site and therefore a lower target
rate should be adopted accordingly and the contractor is better suited than the client to propose
In material handling, the government should introduce specific legislation governing the handling
and disposal of construction wastes and follow up with strict monitoring to ensure compliance.
There should be a centralised material management team co-ordination between the site and the
organization. Proper control, tracking and monitoring of the system is required. Awareness and
For better reuse, recycle and reduce practices, the most effective environmental solution may often
be to reduce the generation of waste and the amount of waste created using waste prevention
measures. Re-use materials to avoid waste being created and where further reduction is not
practicable, products and materials can sometimes be re-used, either for the same or a different
purpose. Recycle materials from site where materials cannot be re-used and value should be
recovered from waste, through recycling, composting or energy recovery from waste.
50
5.5 Recommendations for Further Studies
The study focused on how project design, material handling, procurement and reuse, recycle and
reduce practices influence performance of housing and water projects. Therefore, the study
recommends that further studies should be carried out focusing on other variables not studied
51
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55
APPENDICES
David Gitau
Nairobi
Waste Management Practices and Performance of Construction Projects in Nairobi City County,
Management).
Since you are better placed to provide information required for this study, I have selected you as
my study respondent. You are kindly supposed to rate yourself as per the question items given.
Please take a few minutes to respond to the questionnaire items. I assure you that your answers
will be kept completely confidential and will be used for academic purposes only. Your
Yours faithfully
Sign……………………………………………Date………………………………
David Gitau
56
Appendix II: Questionnaire
Performance of Construction Projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Please tick on the box
2. Age:
To what extent do you agree with the following statements concerning the influence of project
Disagree(SD)=1
Statement 1 2 3 4 5
Specify durable materials to avoid need for early replacement
Specification are detailed and devoid of under/over ordering
57
Waste management plan is prepared along with the design
Knowledge and ability to design for standard materials supply
Ability to coordinate dimensions of building elements and
components
Awareness of material quantity, quality and durability
5. Based on your opinion, how does project design the performance of construction projects
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
Section B: Procurement
To what extent do you agree with the following statements concerning the influence of
Statement 1 2 3 4 5
Supplier flexibility in providing small quantities of materials
Procurement route that minimizes packaging
Order material with high content recycled material
Vendors that supply quality and recycled materials
Planning for good delivery schedule onsite
Reduced excess order to avoid breakage
6. Based on your opinion, how does procurement the performance of construction projects in
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
Statement 1 2 3 4 5
Use of safe materials storage facilities
Prevention of double handling of materials
Providing bins for collecting wastes for each of the sub-
contractor
Adequate site access for material delivery and movement
Waste auditing to monitor and record environmental
performance onsite
Dedicated space for sorting of waste
7. Based on your opinion, how does material handling the performance of construction
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
To what extent do you agree with the following statements concerning the influence of reuse,
reduce and recycling practices on the performance of construction projects in Nairobi County,
Kenya?
Statement 1 2 3 4 5
Recycling target is set for every project
Reuse material scraps from cutting stock length material into
shorter pieces
Waste minimization through measures taken in materials
procurement
Ability to identify and integrate reusable elements into design
59
Ability to effectively design for preassembled components
Consideration and prevention of waste through design
activities (designing out wastes)
8. Based on your opinion, how do reuse, recycle and reduce practices influence the
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................
To what extent do you agree with the following indicators concerning the influence of construction
Kenya?
Statement 1 2 3 4 5
ICT adoption has enabled Tea companies to expand its
market network
ICT adoption has enabled Tea companies to gain more
profits
ICT adoption has led to effective operations in Tea
companies
60
Appendix III: Research Authorization
61
Appendix IV: Research Permit
62
63
64