Re-Build India: An Integrated On-Site Framework for Converting Construction Waste into Affordable CSR Shelter

Abstract

India generates tens of millions of tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste annually. Yet the vast majority of this material is disposed in unauthorised dumps owing to fragmented collection practices, limited access to centralised recycling facilities. Simultaneously, a substantial proportion of rural and peri-urban households across the country continue to lack access to safe and durable pucca housing. This paper presents Re-Build India, a systematic, field-deployable model that bridges these twin challenges by enabling the structured on-site recovery, testing, and reuse of demolition-derived materials for non-structural construction applications, including affordable housing delivered through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. Grounded in a mixed-method research design, the study employs a theoretical demolition scenario with a gross floor area of 1,000 m² as the primary analytical unit. A three-step waste quantification framework is applied, drawing on waste generation benchmarks published by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Material reusability is assessed through simplified, laboratory-free field tests validated against Indian Standards. Cost savings are calculated using CPWD Schedule of Rates 2023 (Mumbai Region), and embodied carbon reductions are evaluated in alignment with the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) methodology covering Module A1–A4 cradle-to-gate boundaries. Results demonstrate that 42% of total demolition waste from the reference scenario (336 tonnes out of 800 tonnes) is recoverable as reusable material. The on-site reuse approach achieves a 74% cost reduction per tonne relative to virgin aggregate procurement and a 62.9% reduction in embodied carbon emissions. At baseline project scale, the recovered material is sufficient to contribute to the construction of 42 PMAY-G compatible CSR shelter units at a unit cost 19% lower than conventional approaches. The model is validated against three real-world Indian case studies and is shown to be fully compliant with six national policy and standards frameworks. The study advances a novel, zero-capital-equipment methodology that democratises circular construction for small and medium contractors, NGOs, and CSR practitioners across India.