WASTE MINIMIZATION AS A STRATEGIC OPTION FOR PROFIT MAXIMIZATION ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed material wastage on construction sites in Enugu urban, Enugu State, Nigeria, with a view to proposing methods for waste minimization. Specific objectives were to identify sources of material waste, examine critical construction stages and their associated wastage levels, determine factors contributing to material waste, evaluate the impact of material waste on building project delivery, and propose waste minimization methods. A mixed research design combining descriptive survey and ex post facto approaches was adopted. Given a small and manageable target population of 36 building professionals (architects, builders, engineers, quantity surveyors, and urban planners) in Enugu urban, the entire population was surveyed by census, and all 36 questionnaires administered were retrieved, a 100% response rate. Data were analysed using mean item scores, one-sample t-tests, and regression and correlation analysis of secondary bill-of-quantities data. Results show that cut-off waste, stockpile waste, and application waste are the leading sources of material waste, while the construction stage carries the highest associated wastage among the six project stages examined. Material storage, fabrication, and procurement practices were identified as the strongest contributing factors, and developing logistics strategies, training and educating workers, and checking materials on arrival were rated the most effective minimization methods. Regression analysis of historical project data found a weak, statistically non-significant negative relationship between material wastage and building delivery performance (r = −0.161, R² = 0.026, p = .599), whereas professionals' perception-based assessment indicated a significant impact. The study recommends an integrated waste-management framework anchored on improved material storage, procurement control, and site supervision to enhance building project delivery in Enugu urban.