EU targets for demolition waste recycling in 2025
21/02/2025
The European Union has announced new policies to transform the construction and demolition sector, focusing on waste management and recycling, which means that the whole industry must be aware of the requirements in demolition practices.
Also, by the end of 2025, EU member states must increase recycling and material recovery of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste to a minimum of 70% by weight, as established in The Waste Framework Directive.
Key policy initiatives
The new requirements could be resumed in three key points:
- Promoting selective demolition to enable the safe removal of hazardous substances and facilitate high-quality recycling
- Implementing waste reduction strategies in construction processes, encouraging sustainable materials use
- Encouraging green public procurement practices for construction projects at local and regional levels
These measures underscore the EU’s commitment to leading global efforts in sustainable construction practices and circular economy principles. Also, they aim to reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector, which currently generates nearly a third of all EU waste.
The European Demolition Association is currently involved with the European Comission’s initiative that aims to define the End-of-waste criteria for mineral construction and demolition waste, and given that waste management legislation differs among EU member states, EDA has been holding meetings with national associations to discuss these criteria and their perspective. Stay tuned about this topic in the EU Construction and Demolition Waste Managment Protocol.
