Recommendations for the management of construction and demolition waste in treatment plants

The construction and demolition waste is one of the heaviest and most voluminous waste streams generated in the European Union. It comprises approximately one third of the waste generated. Recycling this stream waste will provide ecological and sustainable benefits. The recycled aggregates from the construction and demolition waste are beginning to be used in civil construction, as substitutes for natural aggregates. The possible applications of recycled aggregates in the infrastructure construction projects will mainly depend on the quality of the recycled aggregates. This will be determined by the nature and the origin of the construction and demolition waste, and the treatment system used. It requires a comprehensive response by part of the processing agents, mainly construction and demolition companies, and above all public administrations. This work proposes recommendations for the handling of the construction and demolition waste, both in the demolition and in the treatment plants. A quality control system is suggested too.