Development and implementation of initiatives fostering investment and innovation in construction and demolition waste recycling infrastructure

Based on volume, Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) is the largest waste stream by volume in the EU - it represents about one third of all waste produced. Proper management of CDW and recycled materials - including the correct handling of hazardous waste - can have major benefits in terms of sustainability and the quality of life and can also provide major benefits for the EU construction and recycling industry, as it boosts demand for CD recycled materials. The key legislation in the context of CDW recycling is the Waste Framework Directive, which sets the basic concepts and definitions related to waste management and prescribes Member States to achieve the target of 70% of CDW being recovered by 2020. The recent and ambitious Circular Economy Package, which includes revised legislative proposals on waste as well as an ambitious Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) to stimulate Europe's transition towards a circular economy. The CEAP targets "closing the loop", moving from a linear to a circular economy, and highlights the importance secondary raw materials and maintaining the value of waste at the end of life through reuse and recycling as a central part of a successful circular economy. Previous studies completed including the CDW Management Protocol and the CDW Pre-demolition Audit have enabled the need for analysing and identifying business models in CDW recycling, which culminates in this study.