Sustainability Language

Water, Waste & Pollution

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste

Waste generated by building, renovation and demolition activities — the largest single waste stream in the European Union.

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Definition

Construction and demolition waste is the material discarded during the construction, renovation and demolition of buildings and infrastructure, including concrete, bricks, wood, metals, gypsum, glass, plastics and excavated soil. Inert materials account for roughly 85 per cent of the stream. It is regulated in the EU under the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, which sets a 70 per cent recovery target.

References

FEAD

composition (~85% inert)

Overview

What it means

Buildings are material banks at end of life; C&D waste policy determines how much is recovered versus landfilled.

How it is used

The category is tracked in national waste statistics (over one-third of all EU waste), drives recycled-aggregate markets, and is addressed through deconstruction, selective demolition and landfill taxes.

Why it matters

As the largest EU waste stream, its management is central to circular construction, embodied-carbon reduction and raw-material security.

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