Definitions

This section introduces important terminologies used when discussing reuse of construction products. The definitions follow the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) 2008/98/EC and the Commission Decision 2011/753/EU.

Backfilling means a recovery operation where suitable waste is used for reclamation purposes in excavated areas or for engineering purposes in landscaping and where the waste is a substitute for non-waste materials.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) means waste generated by construction and demolition activities. It includes all the waste produced in the construction and demolition of buildings and infrastructure, as well as road planning and maintenance. In this study, land masses and excavated material, has been excluded.

Disposal means any operation which is not recovery even where the operation has as a secondary consequence the reclamation of substances or energy.

Energy recovery refers to the conversion of waste materials into heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, such as incineration.

Glass waste from construction and demolition is mainly plate glass and window. Glass packaging is not included.

Gypsum waste primarily consists of waste from plasterboards, which are wall or ceiling panels made of a gypsum core between paper lining, but can also consist of plaster. Gypsum waste from new construction activities is typically a clean waste, and primarily consists of off-cuts or surplus of plasterboard. Demolition gypsum waste may contain contamination, which can be in the form of nails, screws, wood, insulation or wall coverings.

Landfill is the deposit of waste into or onto land. It includes specially engineered landfill sites and temporary storage of over one year on permanent sites.

Material recovery is restoration of materials found in the waste stream to a beneficial use which may be for purposes other than the original use. It includes e.g. backfilling.

Mineral waste from construction and demolition includes concrete, bricks, gypsum and plaster waste from construction and demolition, as well as mineral insulation materials and asphalt. These can be mixed or sorted separately per material.

Plastics in construction is used in a wide range of products such as pipes, cables, coverings, panels and linings. Plastics used in construction includes e.g., acrylic, composites, Expanded polystyrene, ETFE, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), PTFE. Plastic packaging is not included in this study.

Preparing for re-use means checking and cleaning or repairing recovery operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste are prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing.

Recycling means any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations.

Recycling and material recovery rate for construction and demolition waste is in this study calculated as the sum of the preparing for reuse, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations but excluding energy recovery, divided by all the construction and demolition waste generated excluding naturally occurring excavated material.

Recovery means any operation of which the principal result is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, in the plant or in the wider economy. Recovery is divided into three sub-categories: preparing for re-use, recycling, and other recovery.

Re-use means any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived.

Waste prevention means measures taken before a substance, material or product has become waste, that reduce a) the quantity of waste, including through the re-use of products or the extension of the life span of products; b) the adverse impacts of the generated waste on the environment and human health; or c) the content of harmful substances in materials and products.

Wood waste from construction and demolition mainly consists of auxiliary materials, such as packages, mould boarding, and various losses. It may contain damages due to moisture and mechanical contaminants, such as metal parts, and concrete residue, or be treated with paint and other chemicals.