EVALUATION OF AWARENESS LEVEL OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES AMONG BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This quantitative study assesses awareness of circular economy principles among building construction professionals in Plateau State, Nigeria. It identifies key circular economy principles, determines stakeholder perceptions, evaluates critical barriers, and assesses perceived benefits. A stratified random sampling technique was used to distribute questionnaires to industry stakeholders. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and relative importance indices (RII). The results reveal a significant awareness gap, with 52.5% of professionals being only somewhat or completely unfamiliar with the term "circular economy." Among the principles, design for disassembly (RII=0.97) and material reuse were most recognised. The top perceived benefit was waste reduction to landfills (RII=0.50, Rank 1st). Conversely, the primary barriers identified were a lack of clear government policies (RII=0.49), an absence of economic incentives, and higher perceived initial costs for circular economy materials and methods. The study concludes that while the long-term cost savings and client benefits of a circular economy are acknowledged, the perception of high initial costs presents a critical contradiction. It recommends a structured intervention strategy, specifically the establishment of a Plateau State Circular Economy Roadmap. This should include binding targets for construction and demolition waste diversion, material reuse quotas, and the integration of Design for Disassembly (DfD) standards into building regulations.