In the following section, at first, limitations in the statistical database are shown,
causing difficulties in monitoring waste management. In spite of the diversity of
data, in the second section, this paper gives an overall review of the amount of
construction and demolition waste in EU-28 and the material composition of waste,
based on the more recent available statistical data, such as Eurostat data. Then, the
third part analyses Member States’ recycling and recovery rates. This information is
based on data provided by Bio Intelligence Services investigations [4] and the
research “Resource Efficient Use of Mixed Waste” [5]. These sources give articulated data and information already analysed and corrected, in comparison with
Eurostat data that are not so much detailed. Moreover, the destination of waste in
recycling processes is analysed. The fourth section analyses policies and incentives
of some Member State, with regards to legislative instrument and non-legislative
instrument. Finally, in the last section, this paper discusses the main strategies to
improve the effect of WDF in order to make it more effective and sustainable within
the circular economy vision. The application of Life Cycle Management is the
strategy toward sustainability.
2 Sources and Data Quality on CDW
In the countries of EU-28, to manage waste recycling and reuse, it’s necessary to
know CDW flows, but the first critical issue is that it isn’t monitored well. Indeed,
in the reports published by European Commission and each Member State [4, 5]
and in statistical data (e.g. Eurostat, ISPRA, etc.), it has been always reported that
the data based on waste flow is uncertain and sometimes needs adjustments and
estimations. For example, in Italy, data collection is difficult: the national production of special waste has been quantified from the information contained in the
MUD statements (Modello Unico di Dichiarazione ambientale), specifically the
data presented in the ISPRA Report [7]. It should be noted that Legislative Decree
152/2006 provides for several exemptions from the obligation to declare, therefore,
MUD database processing cannot provide complete information on the production
of waste [6]. In addition, the reprehensible practice of the abandonment of waste is
not possible to estimate. Production data must therefore be correctly estimated and
this constitutes a major limitation of the analysis [7].
Another limit of the available data is that construction part and demolition part
are not separated, even if demolition waste stream is larger by weight than construction waste stream, they are different. Construction waste (originated from new
construction) is less mixed, less contaminated and its recovery potential is higher
than demolition waste because of these characteristics. Demolition waste stream is
more contaminated (with painting, adhesives etc.) and more mixed due to the
integration of different elements. Furthermore, there is very little information on
waste material type. CDW are composed by different quantities of concrete,
cement, bricks, gypsum products (e.g. plasterboard, building plaster and gypsum
block), ceramic products (e.g. tiles and consumer products), glass and asphalt, each
212
S. Giorgi et al.
causing difficulties in monitoring waste management. In spite of the diversity of
data, in the second section, this paper gives an overall review of the amount of
construction and demolition waste in EU-28 and the material composition of waste,
based on the more recent available statistical data, such as Eurostat data. Then, the
third part analyses Member States’ recycling and recovery rates. This information is
based on data provided by Bio Intelligence Services investigations [4] and the
research “Resource Efficient Use of Mixed Waste” [5]. These sources give articulated data and information already analysed and corrected, in comparison with
Eurostat data that are not so much detailed. Moreover, the destination of waste in
recycling processes is analysed. The fourth section analyses policies and incentives
of some Member State, with regards to legislative instrument and non-legislative
instrument. Finally, in the last section, this paper discusses the main strategies to
improve the effect of WDF in order to make it more effective and sustainable within
the circular economy vision. The application of Life Cycle Management is the
strategy toward sustainability.
2 Sources and Data Quality on CDW
In the countries of EU-28, to manage waste recycling and reuse, it’s necessary to
know CDW flows, but the first critical issue is that it isn’t monitored well. Indeed,
in the reports published by European Commission and each Member State [4, 5]
and in statistical data (e.g. Eurostat, ISPRA, etc.), it has been always reported that
the data based on waste flow is uncertain and sometimes needs adjustments and
estimations. For example, in Italy, data collection is difficult: the national production of special waste has been quantified from the information contained in the
MUD statements (Modello Unico di Dichiarazione ambientale), specifically the
data presented in the ISPRA Report [7]. It should be noted that Legislative Decree
152/2006 provides for several exemptions from the obligation to declare, therefore,
MUD database processing cannot provide complete information on the production
of waste [6]. In addition, the reprehensible practice of the abandonment of waste is
not possible to estimate. Production data must therefore be correctly estimated and
this constitutes a major limitation of the analysis [7].
Another limit of the available data is that construction part and demolition part
are not separated, even if demolition waste stream is larger by weight than construction waste stream, they are different. Construction waste (originated from new
construction) is less mixed, less contaminated and its recovery potential is higher
than demolition waste because of these characteristics. Demolition waste stream is
more contaminated (with painting, adhesives etc.) and more mixed due to the
integration of different elements. Furthermore, there is very little information on
waste material type. CDW are composed by different quantities of concrete,
cement, bricks, gypsum products (e.g. plasterboard, building plaster and gypsum
block), ceramic products (e.g. tiles and consumer products), glass and asphalt, each
212
S. Giorgi et al.