Implementation of environmental management in the Hong Kong construction industry

Abstract

The control of environmental impacts from construction has become a major issue to the public. Whilst the implementation of environmental management in construction has a direct contribution to environmental protection, it involves allocating a variety of resources for practicing various environmental management methods such as noise control, treatment of polluted water, waste recycling and reusing, and so on. The application of these methods leads to an increase in labour use, materials handling costs, which can limit their implementation. This paper provides a profile of environmental management in Hong Kong construction by identifying what contractors in Hong Kong consider to be the benefits of and barriers to the practice. The appropriateness of measures for mitigating the barrier effects is investigated. The paper provides empirical evidence of the benefits of and barriers to the process of increasing the implementation of environmental management among contractors in Hong Kong. It should help contractors to adjust their environmental management policy by efficient resources allocation within their companies.