Construction and Demolition Wastes: specific conditions for recycling in North West Europe

The Construction and Demolition Wastes (C&DW) are estimated at one third of total wastes generated in the European Union and represent the main flux in volume. Inert materials (e.g. concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics) constitute the largest fraction of construction and demolition wastes. These wastes can be recovered as secondary raw materials after a recycling process resulting in the production of recycled sands and aggregates. The market for recycled sands and aggregates is however complex and sensitive. It can be affected by many parameters and may be very variable from one region to another, even in the same country. A quantitative analysis of market is carried out in five North West European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. For achieving this analysis, attention is paid to the following data/parameters: generation of inert construction and demolition wastes, production of recycled sands and aggregates and production of natural sands and aggregates. Since the market of recycled products is also governed by transportation costs (mainly transported by road), the study has also compiled data on the density of recycling plants for construction and demolition wastes, the density of pits and quarries extracting natural materials, the density of inert landfills and taxes applied for C&DW landfilling. National/regional legislation and requirements are also included in the analysis. Based on the compiled data and objective reasons, it is observed that the market of recycled sands and aggregates is more developed and more suitable in the Netherlands and in Flanders (North of Belgium) than is the other investigated countries/regions.