Sustainable Construction & Demolition Waste Management

Posted on Oct 16, 2024 in Geology

TMA2: Environmental and Constructive Activity

Definitions

Environment

Physical, chemical, biological, and social factors that make up a space where a system carries out its functions.

Ecosystem

A system of living beings existing in a determined environment.

Sustainable Development

Satisfying the needs of the present without compromising the capacity of future generations to satisfy their own needs.

Sustainability

Maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations. Sustainability consists of:

  1. Utilization rate of renewable resources <= to its generation rate.
  2. Utilization rate of non-renewable resources <= to the generation of substitute resources.
  3. Contaminant generation rate <= to the necessary absorption, sterilization, or recycling rate.

LCA: Life Cycle Analysis

Official Definition

Objective process to assess environmental charges associated with a product, process, or activity. Phases:

  1. Identifying and quantifying the energy, materials, and residues used throughout the life cycle.
  2. Determining the impact of the use of energy, material discharges, and residues on the environment.
  3. Evaluating and implementing environmental improvements.

LCA Analysis

Includes the study of the complete life cycle of a product or activity, understanding the processes of the stages: extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, distribution and transport, use, reuse and maintenance, recycling, and final disposal.

Methodology Stages:

  1. Definition of objectives and scope.
  2. Inventory analysis.
  3. Impact assessment:
    1. Classification of substances and their effects on the environment.
    2. Characterization.
    3. Normalization to compare different impact categories.
    4. Assessment or evaluation of different impact categories.
  4. Evaluation or interpretation of results.

RD 105/2008

Objective

Establish a legal framework for the production and management of construction and demolition waste, promoting prevention, reuse, and recycling, ensuring proper waste treatment and contributing to the sustainable development of construction activity.

Definitions

Construction and Demolition Waste

Any substance or object complying with the definition of waste according to Law 10/98, generated in a building or demolition work.

Waste (Law 10/98)

Any substance or object which its holder discards or intends or is obliged to discard.

Inert Waste

Waste that does not undergo significant physical, chemical, or biological transformations, does not dissolve, combust, or react physically or chemically, is not biodegradable, and does not negatively affect other materials with which it comes into contact, leading to contamination or harming the environment or human health.

Construction and Demolition Work

Activity consisting of:

  • Construction, rehabilitation, repair, demolition, or reform of a property.
  • Works that modify the shape or substance of the terrain or subsoil, such as excavations, injections, urbanizations, etc., excluding those affected by specific regulations on waste management from extractive industries.

Producer of Construction and Demolition Waste

  • Natural or legal person holding the building permit.
  • In works that do not require a building permit, the owner of the property will be considered the producer.
  • Natural or legal person who carries out treatment, mixing, or other operations.
  • Importer or acquirer of construction and demolition waste.

Holder of Construction and Demolition Waste

  • Natural or legal person who has construction and demolition waste in their possession and is not a waste manager.
  • In any case, the workers will be considered holders of the construction and demolition waste on behalf of others.

Pretreatment

Physical, chemical, or biological process that changes the characteristics of the waste, reducing its volume or hazardousness, facilitating handling, increasing its recovery potential, or improving its behavior in landfill.

Objectives of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan

  1. Assess the risks.
  2. Assess the treatment of construction and demolition waste.
  3. Determine the cost of managing construction and demolition waste for a project:
    1. Knowing the cost of management favors the application of waste reduction and classification measures.
    2. An increase in landfill tax rates by government proposals will result in the increase of corrective measures.

Reuse and Recycling

Reuse of Building Materials

Re-employing a used construction material in a new work. Construction elements can be disassembled and classified, achieving a clean classification.

Recycling of Construction Materials

Process by which materials are obtained from other transformation processes. Advantages of recycling:

  • Recovery of occupied spaces.
  • Useful and cost-effective materials that comply with regulations.
  • Creation of new enterprises.
  • Manufacturing with recycled materials, saving energy and reducing pollution.
  • Reduces the amount of primary natural resources to extract.

Selective Demolition or Deconstruction

Alternative demolition method to minimize waste. Promotes sustainable development. Organization of the deconstruction process comprises several combined actions:

  • Removal of architectural elements.
  • Recovery of toxic or contaminated materials.
  • Recovery of recyclable materials that are not original stone.
  • Mass demolition of the structure.

Phases

  1. Classify materials generated during deconstruction:
  • Recyclable materials.
  • Reusable materials.
  • Non-recyclable materials.
Plan:
  • Estimate the quantity of containers and their dimensions.
  • Choose appropriate containers for each substance.
  • Organize the location of different containers and their signs. It is necessary to ensure that the containers are accessible, situated at an acceptable distance, not accessible to persons outside the work, and protected against inclement weather.

Types of Construction and Demolition Waste

The waste produced is very heterogeneous, causing difficulties for proper recycling. Mixed materials are difficult to recycle and manage. Transport to authorized managers is of great importance.

Two types:

  1. From the building action: Mostly surplus materials, stony or metallic. These are the most important fraction of waste on site.
  2. From packaging: Products that come to work, made of various materials (plastics, paper, wood, cardboard, etc.). They have a low weight but a significant volume and are very heterogeneous.