1. Introduction

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) accounts for more than a third of all waste generated in the EU. The generated waste consists of many different materials such as minerals, glass, metal, wood, plastic and plaster. Several of these materials originates from virgin materials, which raw material extraction causes a big impact on nature and potentially finite resources. In many cases, they still end up on landfills or on the lower steps of the waste hierarchy after one use. The Nordic countries, as well as the EU, face the same problems as a large part of the construction and demolition waste is not reused or recycled. All the Nordic countries are not reaching the recycling targets of 70 % in 2025 set out in the EU waste directive.

Given the significant volume of waste generated by this sector, a transition in the construction industry towards more circular thinking is imperative to diminish global environmental degradation and reducing resource consumption. Reusing construction products facilitates the prevention of all impacts associated with producing and transporting new products, as well as construction and demolition waste.

Nevertheless, numerous initiatives are underway in this field, ranging from inventions and business ideas to legal requirements in the Nordic countries. By highlighting these good examples and by observing practices in the Nordics or in the EU, there are ways and methods to move forward to increase the amount of reused and recycled construction materials. That can effectively shift this sector towards a more circular approach.

The Nordic cooperation led by the Nordic Council of ministers works towards the vision that the Nordic region will become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world in 2030. To meet the goals of the Nordic vision, three priorities are pursued: a green Nordic region, a competitive Nordic region and a socially sustainable Nordic region. The strategic priority “A green Nordic region” focuses on promoting green transition and working towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable circular and bio-based economy. This study is supporting the work towards a green Nordic region by contributing to the achievement of the goal "Resource-efficient and non-toxic cycles" and the Nordic vision program "Nordic Sustainable Construction" and "Nordic Network for Circular Construction".

The study aimed to identify and present relevant techniques and facilities regarding reuse and recycling of construction and demolition waste in the Nordic market. It also included an inventory of the construction and demolition waste streams that currently are difficult to reuse or recover and finding ways forward to improve the situation. The objective of this study was to:

In the study the CDW fractions with currently limited recycling or reusing options and explore the primary obstacles and underlying reasons for this situation were assessed. By analysing the waste statistics, CDW fractions has the best potential to increase the recycling rate was identified, and the examples from the field highlight promising ways to do this. In addition, the differences in the CDW treatment methods between different Nordic countries were evaluated.

The study was conducted using various methods further described below and in Figure 1. The key method throughout the study was desktop research including open sources for information and data gathering in the countries covered in the report, but also network outreach and the use of internal experts. These contacts have consisted of colleagues at AFRY in the different Nordic countries as well as other European countries, officials at national authorities, representatives from different companies focusing on reusing and recycling materials from the construction and demolition sector.

Data regarding waste streams and treatment methods has been collected from various open data sources in the countries. Additional efforts were necessary, involving contacting responsible officers for raw data, in order to acquire more detailed information or clarifications. Data of CDW treatment facilities were gathered through sector expert organisations, environmental permits and authorities. Facilities mechanically sorting mixed CDW as well as incineration plants were not included in the scope of this study. Reuse facilities proved difficult to find with this methodology, since the materials and products for reuse is not included in the waste statistics or environmental permits for waste treatment facilities.

A stakeholder workshop was also held with the aim to gather key people, create discussions and to get valuable insights from the stakeholders. The invitees were representatives from innovative companies in the field as well as representatives from authorities, construction companies and researchers.

Finally, the gathered information and data was analysed. This involved identifying key impact drivers that influence the potential for reusing or recycling a larger portion of the waste. Utilizing these impact drivers, comparisons were made among the countries to uncover similarities, differences, as well as obstacles and opportunities.

This study was carried out on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers by AFRY Management Consulting.

The study covered the five Nordic countries including the regions Åland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. It focuses on waste from the construction and demolition sector in terms of the following groups of materials: glass, metal, mineral, plaster, plastic, and wood. In this study, land masses and excavated material, have been excluded.

Regarding good examples in the field, case studies of actors from all the countries have been chosen. These are companies focusing on reusing materials as well as companies focusing on recycling materials. The case examples also aim to represent a variation of the materials covered in the study. There are more examples in the field that could be highlighted but, in this study, it is limited to only 2 to 3 examples chosen and described from each country.

Since the study used data from open sources, the quantity and quality of the data differ between the countries due to the countries’ own reporting and data collection systems. Thus, the data and information from the countries covered in this study varies and it was not always possible to make relevant comparisons.

To describe available techniques and typical CDW management, the study also looked into regulations and policy, since it is a main driver in explaining the reasons behind potential differences between countries.