CLOSER - A project for implementing pre-demolition audits in Portugal

Abstract

The construction industry is one of the largest sectors in Europe and, on average, construction and demolition waste (CDW) accounts for one-third of the total waste generated. The recovery rate of these wastes surpasses the 70% target defined in the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC. Nevertheless, this fact does not ensure that the sector is moving towards a transition from a linear to a circular economy at the end-of-life phase of buildings. In Portugal, a recovery rate of 95% of non-hazardous CDW prepared to reuse, recycling or other recovery operations is reported, although more than half of these residues are used as material for backfilling, therefore it does not represent a true circular transition due to downcycling. The project CLOSER, aiming to promote the application of circular economy principles by reducing material use and waste production, assessed the actual Portuguese practice for the management of CDW and evaluated the benefits of performing a pre-demolition audit in a pilot study. This project highlighted the crucial relevance of investing in training to improve green and digital skills. In what concerns building materials/elements reuse and recycling, changes to national policies were proposed.