How to control the waste flows and prevent bad practices with demolition or waste management?

Presently, every country in Europe, and the European Union itself, has various regulations relating to waste management. Therefore, theoretically, bad practices in relation to the management of construction and demolition waste should be eradicated.

But the actual practice may differ. Wastes are constantly thrown into illegal landfills, including hazardous waste, with its consequent risks to the environment and people in the area.

In addition, even if the waste is sent to suitable places for this purpose, it is very common that it has not been separated and treated appropriately, thus invalidating that such waste can be reused or sent to plants where it can be recycled, therefore going in against the principles of the circular economy.

So, if the regulations preventing incorrect waste management already exist, why is the problem persisting? How can it be solved?

Many answers can be given to this question, all of them true. But, probably, the bigger issue with this matter is that, generally, actual regulations prohibit bad practices instead of incentivising good practices.

When prohibited, there will always be someone who will try to break the rule, and it is economically and physically impossible for authorities to watch every demolition and construction site, so there will be always someone who gets to avoid the prohibitions of the regulations.

Otherwise, if good practices concerning the management of construction and demolition waste are incentivized, with tax deductions, for example, then it will be the companies themselves who will be interested in doing it correctly.

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