A.L.I.C.E. in Waste Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole of Preparing Waste for Reuse as Construction Materials Through Recycling Centres
Authors
Hornstrup, Oliver Kirkegaard ; Højmark, Søren ; Lage, Oscar Rosenmejer
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-06-03
Pages
83
Abstract
Municipal recycling centers are increasingly seen as places where waste can be prepared for reuse as building materials (Preparation for Reuse, PfR) to support a circular economy. Turning this ambition into everyday practice, however, is difficult. This thesis examines how PfR can be developed at recycling centers. Using an elaborated Action Design Research approach (a research method that designs and tests solutions while studying the process) in collaboration with Nordværk, a practical solution (artifact) was iteratively designed and tested across strategic and operational contexts, tracing how the PfR potential was identified, negotiated, and reshaped along the way. The findings show that reuse potential depends not only on the properties of materials; it emerges from the interaction between organizational frameworks and resources, day-to-day workflows, and the conditions of those who will receive and use the materials. The thesis demonstrates that PfR is fundamentally a socio-technical challenge: it is primarily about organizing the processes, roles, and collaborations that make PfR possible, rather than simply selecting materials with reuse potential. It also shows that current organizational and resource constraints limit recycling-center staff (genbrugsvejledere) from engaging in PfR activities. This reduces access to material knowledge, practical judgment, and operational experience—competences identified as crucial for developing and facilitating future PfR systems. PfR systems should therefore be developed through bounded, learning-oriented experiments that both build practical know-how and involve operational actors in creating new system conditions and redefining the role of recycling-center staff.
Kommunale genbrugspladser ses i stigende grad som steder, hvor affald kan forberedes til genbrug som byggematerialer (Preparation for Reuse, PfR) for at støtte en cirkulær økonomi. At omsætte denne ambition til daglig praksis er dog vanskeligt. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan PfR kan udvikles via genbrugspladser. Med en udvidet Action Design Research-tilgang (en forskningsform, der designer og afprøver løsninger, mens processen studeres), gennemført i samarbejde med Nordværk, blev en praktisk løsning (artefakt) udviklet og afprøvet iterativt på tværs af strategiske og operationelle sammenhænge. Undervejs blev det undersøgt, hvordan PfR-potentialet blev identificeret, forhandlet og omformet. Resultaterne viser, at genbrugspotentiale ikke kun afhænger af materialernes egenskaber, men skabes i samspillet mellem organisatoriske rammer og ressourcer, arbejdsprocesser på pladsen og betingelser hos dem, der modtager og skal bruge materialerne. Specialet demonstrerer, at PfR grundlæggende er en socio-teknisk udfordring: Det handler først og fremmest om at organisere de processer, roller og samarbejder, der muliggør PfR, frem for blot at udpege materialer med genbrugspotentiale. Studiet peger desuden på, at eksisterende organisatoriske og ressourcemæssige begrænsninger hæmmer genbrugsvejledernes mulighed for at engagere sig i PfR-aktiviteter. Dette reducerer adgangen til det materialekendskab, den praktiske dømmekraft og de driftsnære erfaringer, som er afgørende for at udvikle og facilitere fremtidige PfR-systemer. PfR-systemer bør derfor udvikles gennem afgrænsede, læringsorienterede eksperimenter, som både opbygger praktisk viden og inddrager driftsaktører i at skabe nye systembetingelser og i at redefinere genbrugsvejledernes rolle.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords
preparation-for-reuse ; preparation for reuse ; PfR ; Forberedelse mhp. genbrug ; Forberedelse med henblik på genbrug ; Genbrug ; Circular Economy ; Construction materials ; Construction material reuse ; Reuse of construction materials ; Reuse system ; PfR system ; Municipal waste management ; Municipal waste management systems ; Recycling centres ; Recycling centre ; Construction and Demolition Waste ; Resource Preservation ; Value Preservation ; Circular Construction ; Material Reuse ; Socio-Technical Systems ; Socio-Technical Transitions ; Circular Resource Management ; Material Circularity ; Waste Hierarchy ; Sustainable Waste Management ; Pragmatic Constructivism ; Translation Theory ; Boundary Objects ; Boundary Object Theory ; Organisational Sensemaking ; Knowledge Co-creation ; Cross-Level Coordination ; Action Design Research ; Organisational Learning ; eADR ; Elaborated Action Design Research ; Participatory Research ; Case Study Research ; Iterative Design ; Artefact Development ; Qualitative Research ; Reuse Potential ; Value Preservation Potential ; Circular Value Chains ; Ølbong