RETHINKING WASTE DEFINITION TO ACCOUNT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS

Abstract

Onho´s types of waste have been used in lean construction as guidelines. However, weargue that the lean construction community should question and rethink the definition ofwaste, and update the types of wastes in order to account not only for theproduction/economic impacts from design and construction, but also their environmentaland social impacts. This paper provides insights about this issue and a literature reviewpertaining types of environmental and social waste derived from the construction industry.We think that the transformation and value flow also needs to account not only for theproducts derived from the design and manufacturing process, but also needs to accountfor the inputs, such as energy and water as well as the by-products, such as air emissions,contamination of water, and soil. Finally, we think that more research is needed in thisarea, in order to extend the positive impacts of applying combined lean and sustainableprinciples in construction.