Comprehensive Analysis of Construction and Demolition Waste Management in Colombia: Regulation, Environmental and Social Impacts, Opportunities

Colombia has a population of 52.33 million and is constantly growing, which presents an increasing demand for civil infrastructure work. This situation directly drives the development of the construction sector and simultaneously increases the demolition, remodeling, and replacement processes of obsolete structures. Consequently, greater construction and demolition waste (CDW) production is generated, representing significant management challenges causing emerging socio-environmental impacts. This literature review aimed to analyze these challenges, identify the factors that hinder their proper implementation, and propose improvement opportunities that contribute to strengthening sustainable strategies within the framework of a circular economy. The methodology consisted of three interconnected stages: information gathering using databases such as Google Scholar, Scielo, ScienceDirect, and prominent institutional repositories in the country; categorization through the reading of titles and abstracts; and full reading to understand the issue and achieve the objectives proposed in this work. The selected documents provided detailed data on the management of CDW in the urban context, focusing on recycling and recovery processes, collection systems, current regulations, and social and environmental impacts. After a thorough analysis, limitations and improvement opportunities were outlined regarding the CDW issue. Ultimately, this review aimed to gather scattered information about CDW management and present the Colombian context to the national and international audience. It is expected to serve as a basis for new research, funding proposals, and public policy recommendations that promote solutions that are not only sustainable but also in favor of the community.