Recycling concrete from construction and demolition waste
29/10/2014
This debate was held on October 27, in Brussels, Belgium, in order to focus on ways of bridging the gap between what is feasible technically and the policies required in recycling concrete of construction and demolition waste.
Attendants included representatives from both the Environment and Enterprise Directorates of the European Commission, as well as several delegates from international associations, including the European Demolition Association, and experts in the field of concrete recycling from industry and academia.
One of the main points tackled was barriers to and drivers for recycling, where a lack of professionalism was identified as a barrier, given that it encourages a poor perception of recycled aggregates.
Here, the implementation of a suitable framework to ensure a level playing field within the industry which encourages all actors to apply the same rigorous standards could partially resolve this issue.
Another point requiring further reflection is the idea of imposing a benchmark based on recycled content, where the experts suggested that applying a target at the building level, rather than on the construction products themselves, could offer greater flexibility.
A new idea suggested was value-based targets, whereby contractors and designers would be encouraged to reflect upon more innovative solutions, adapted to local availability and needs.
The Concrete Initiative examines the economic, social and environmental implications of sustainable construction and the need for a balanced approach among these three pillars, which shows how the construction industry, including concrete, can help find solutions to Europe’s challenges.
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