EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol
Presentation
The EU “Construction & Demolition Waste (CDW) Management Protocol” aims to enhance confidence in CDW management processes and increase the reuse of recycled materials. As CDW constitutes the largest waste stream in the EU, better management can result in significant environmental, economic, and social benefits.
It’s also part of the European Commission’s recently adopted Circular Economy Package, where its overall aim is to increase confidence in the Construction and Demolition waste management process and the trust in the quality of Construction and Demolition recycled materials.
The European Demolition Association, EDA, was actively involved in the process attending several workshops about the protocol during the last year an a half, through its the National Associations and members of its Secretariat.
Summary
The aims of the Protocol will be achieved by:
- Waste identification through pre-demolition and pre-renovation audits: Essential for identifying reuse potential, hazardous substances, and waste quantities. It involves desk studies, site surveys, testing, and recommendations. Auditor competence and traceability are key for quality assurance.
- Selective demolition: Facilitates the safe removal of hazardous substances like asbestos and enhances source separation for reuse and recycling. A detailed demolition plan ensures proper sequencing, logistics, and separation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.
- Waste logistics: Proper documentation ensures transparency and traceability, optimizing transport efficiency, reducing distances, and minimizing environmental risks during material handling.
- Waste processing and treatment: Following the waste hierarchy (prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle), the protocol outlines treatment options for different waste streams such as concrete, metals, glass, wood, etc., promoting onsite and offsite reuse through repair, recycling, and recovery.
- Quality management: Involves audits, demolition, logistics, and treatment, ensuring high standards for reused materials, including certification schemes and compliance with product standards.
- Policy framework: Offers recommendations for authorities to establish conducive regulations, strategies, and enforcement mechanisms to support the CDW protocol.
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