Circular construction and the Role of the AMP’s municipalities

Construction and Demolition Wastes (CDW) from the construction industry are a major part of the wastes produced in the European Union, between 25% and 30% (900 million tons). Owing to the environmental impact they generate and their potential to be reused and recycled, CDW have been identified by the EU as a priority waste stream.

Although no specific directive on this stream has been produced, the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) requires the compliance with demanding goals on preparing the reuse and recycling of CDW (70% until 2020).

The situation in Europe in this field is much heterogeneous, with a CDW recycling rate that varies from less than 15% (Portugal, Spain and Greece) and over 90% (Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands).

In 2008, Portugal produced specific regulation for CDW management (Decree-Law no. 46/2008, of 12 March). Nevertheless, the amount of reused and recycled CDW is still very short (<10%) and illegal deposition of this kind of waste takes place more or less all over the country.

Considering this issue, on 19 February 2018, the Porto Metropolitan Council, acknowledging the relevance of the Construction and Demolition sector for the transition towards a Circular Economy, approved the creation of the Circular Economy and CDW Working Group and the development of the project “Circular Construction and the Role of the Porto Metropolitan Area’s Municipalities”, in cooperation with the Smart Waste Portugal association (ASWP) and Lipor.

Seeking to be ground breaker in the subject by defending a metropolitan strategy to manage CDW, the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) is willing to produce an Action Plan for the Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Wastes (CDW), capable of raising the population’s awareness of this subject, of promoting adequate political and framing conditions, and of improving CDW identification and quantification.

The following specific goals have been set to carry out this Action Plan:

• Production of a report diagnosing the CDW management in the Porto Metropolitan Area;

• Production of an Action Plan for the sustainable management of CDW;

• Establishment of a norm to report CDW amounts in construction sites;

• Definition of a model for a Municipal Regulation on CDW management;

• Creation of a map showing the CDW receiver units in the AMP;

• Creation of a project covering the planning, monitoring and implementation of local CDW management strategies for each of the associated municipalities.

(full texts in Portuguese)