Decision Making on Reverse Logistics in the Construction Industry

With the growing competition, many construction organizations attempt to improve their productivity, quality, and efficiency. Construction waste management, by means of reverse logistics, becomes a key issue to improve the productivity, and raise the company’s green image. In this study, four key reverse logistics methods, including the direct reuse, the remanufacturing, the recycling, and the landfill methods, are considered to manage the construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Two factors (Economic and Site Constraints factors), with their 15 sub-factors, affecting the decisions to implement the reverse logistics are examined. The hierarchy model of reverse logistics decisions, developed through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), reveal the importance of each factor and subfactor. A case study of a construction company utilizing the developed hierarchy model to make the decision on the best reverse logistics method to implement is also provided. Keywords—analytic hierarchy process, construction industry, reverses logistics