Green Buildings and Recycling Technologies: A Comparison between Iraqi and International Approaches

ABSTRACT Construction and demolition waste (C&DW), which are continuously generated in emerging cities, is one of the largest solid waste streams worldwide and its management has become a problem for every city government. For the purpose of environmentally sound development, recycling such waste is an essential part of green building as it provides environmental and financial benefits. The present study investigates construction waste recycling techniques, with a focus on comparative analysis between typical applications in Iraq and those adopted globally as best practices; these include sorting technology, mechanical processing, and advanced treatment processes which are used together to produce sustainable building materials. And it discusses the barriers that prevent the spread of these technologies in Iraq, ranging from the absence of legislative infrastructure, technical awareness to others that countries that have adopted circular economy policies and technological innovation have witnessed. Based on these comparisons, the study provides policy recommendations that can be implemented in Iraq to encourage adoption and penetration of recycling technologies such as environmental policy support, development of incentives for investment in clean technologies and incorporation of green building principles into local laws. This is a move toward environmentally sustainable building industry.