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Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development: Innovations in Waste...
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Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development: Innovations in Waste Management and Building Materials

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 2820

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Robert Haigh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Interests: waste valorisation and management; materials science and engineering; building and construction practices; sustainable cities; environmental sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To promote the circular economy framework, the use of innovative waste materials within building and construction materials or systems is critical. This Special Issue aims to explore and disseminate research on sustainable practices that incorporate waste byproducts, industrial residues, and recycled materials as alternatives to traditional building resources. Moreover, this issue covers a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to the following:

  • Material Development: Research on the development and characterization of new building materials derived from waste products, such as construction debris, agricultural byproducts, industrial waste, and municipal solid waste.
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Studies evaluating the environmental impact, energy consumption, and carbon footprint of construction materials made from waste, including comparisons with conventional materials.
  • Circular Economy: Investigations into the integration of waste materials into circular construction practices, promoting sustainability through resource efficiency and reduced environmental harm.
  • Innovative Construction Systems: Research on new construction systems and technologies that effectively utilize waste-derived materials, with a focus on enhancing performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Building Performance and Durability: Articles exploring the mechanical, thermal, acoustic, and fire-resistant properties of waste-based materials, as well as their long-term performance in real-world construction applications.
  • Economic and Social Impacts: Analyses of the economic feasibility and social benefits of using waste materials in construction, including cost savings, job creation, and social equity within the building industry.

This issue provides a platform for multidisciplinary research that promotes sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and innovation in the field of building and construction. It welcomes contributions from academia, industry professionals, and policymakers dedicated to advancing the use of waste materials as a solution to current global challenges in construction and sustainability.

Dr. Robert Haigh
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • waste
  • building materials
  • circular economy
  • sustainability
  • resource recovery

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 9734 KB  
Article
A Life Cycle Assessment of HDPE Plastic Milk Bottle Waste Within Concrete Composites and Their Potential in Residential Building and Construction Applications
by Robert Haigh
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9040116 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1090
Abstract
Plastic waste management remains a significant global challenge, with limited recycling opportunities contributing to its status as one of the highest waste producers. In Australia, the recovery rate for plastic waste is 12.5%, resulting in a high percentage of plastics being landfilled. Common [...] Read more.
Plastic waste management remains a significant global challenge, with limited recycling opportunities contributing to its status as one of the highest waste producers. In Australia, the recovery rate for plastic waste is 12.5%, resulting in a high percentage of plastics being landfilled. Common disposal methods, such as incineration and landfilling, are environmentally damaging, with incineration emitting harmful gases and landfilling causing contamination. Recycling, while preferable, faces difficulties due to contamination and infrastructure challenges. However, alternative solutions, such as integrating waste plastic into concrete, present an opportunity to both reduce plastic waste and enhance the economic value of recycled materials. This study evaluates the potential of waste plastic milk bottles (PMBs) in residential concrete by assessing their mechanical strength, environmental impact, and variability in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study demonstrated that replacing up to 10% of cement with silica fume-modified plastic milk bottle (SFPMB) waste granules maintained comparable compressive strength to traditional concrete. The addition of metakaolin to the SFPMB mix design (SFMKPMB) further improved the material’s strength by 28%. Life cycle assessment (LCA) results revealed reductions in global warming potential (GWP), human toxicity potential (HTP), and fossil depletion potential (FDP), with SFMKPMB showing the greatest environmental savings. A Monte Carlo simulation evaluated variability factors, revealing that additional transportation and energy requirements increased GHG emissions, though the SFMKPMB mix ultimately resulted in the lowest overall material GHG emissions. This study demonstrates the complexity of assessing “green” materials and highlights how material variability and energy use can influence the sustainability of waste-derived composites. Despite challenges, incorporating waste plastics into concrete offers a promising strategy for mitigating landfill waste and reducing environmental impacts, especially as renewable energy adoption increases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development: Innovations in Waste Management and Building Materials)
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Review

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27 pages, 4462 KB  
Review
Unlocking Alternative Cement Solutions: Utilizing Wastes and By-Products for Magnesium Phosphate Cement Development
by Anna Alfocea-Roig, Jessica Giro-Paloma, Sergio Huete-Hernández and Joan Formosa
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(9), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9090352 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 718
Abstract
Concrete is the most used material worldwide, with cement as its essential component. Cement production, however, has a considerable environmental footprint contributing nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions, largely from clinker calcination. This review aims to examine strategies for reducing these emissions, [...] Read more.
Concrete is the most used material worldwide, with cement as its essential component. Cement production, however, has a considerable environmental footprint contributing nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions, largely from clinker calcination. This review aims to examine strategies for reducing these emissions, with a particular focus on alternative materials for producing magnesium phosphate cements (MPCs). Specifically, the objectives are first to summarize mitigation pathways, such as CO2 capture, energy efficiency, and alternative raw materials, and second evaluate the feasibility of using industrial wastes and by-products, including low-grade MgO, tundish deskulling waste (TUN), boron-MgO (B-MgO), and magnesia refractory brick waste (MRB), as MgO sources for MPC. The review highlights that these materials represent a promising route to reduce the environmental impact of cement production and support the transition toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development: Innovations in Waste Management and Building Materials)
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Other

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22 pages, 2135 KB  
Systematic Review
Barriers and Potentials for Circular Use of Waste Wood in Construction and Demolition Sector with Special Focus on Germany
by Arbnore Cakaj, Linnea Hesse, Andreas Krause, Hubert Speth and Jan Lüdtke
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(9), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9090367 - 12 Sep 2025
Viewed by 375
Abstract
The construction and demolition (C&D) industry generates nearly one-third of the total global waste. In response, the European Union is driving urgent efforts to enhance material circularity through the promotion of renewable materials. However, research primarily targets materials such as concrete, plastics, steel, [...] Read more.
The construction and demolition (C&D) industry generates nearly one-third of the total global waste. In response, the European Union is driving urgent efforts to enhance material circularity through the promotion of renewable materials. However, research primarily targets materials such as concrete, plastics, steel, bricks, and gypsum, while wood as a renewable material presents a clear research gap. This study aims to bridge the gap by identifying key barriers and potentials for reusing wood waste in the C&D sector. As a result, factors influencing wood reusability are categorized into economic, societal, environmental, technical, and regulatory dimensions. Economic and environmental factors addressing high costs, unstable markets, and contamination are the most discussed barriers for an enhanced circular use of wood. Specifically, material irregularities and impurities represent technical barriers that may make wood demand less attractive. Societal barriers, such as knowledge gaps regarding the quality of secondary materials, established standards, and legal limits are further barriers that are mentioned in the literature. Therefore, potential future indicators to support a circular approach in the construction sector, including regulatory actions and incentives, are recommended to promote recovered secondary materials. This approach would facilitate shared stakeholder cooperation, knowledge sharing, and market development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development: Innovations in Waste Management and Building Materials)
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