Construction waste in Turkey could serve as raw material for new buildings

In Turkey, millions of tons of construction and demolition waste are generated annually, yet recycling rates remain low. Official data indicates a recovery rate of approximately 5%, though industry sources suggest it may reach 20% in practice. Most of this waste is currently sent to landfills.

Associate Professor Süleyman İpek from Yaşar University emphasizes that these materials, including concrete, brick, wood, glass, metal, and asphalt, can be reintegrated into the economy as raw materials. He advocates for the use of “selective demolition” and “secondary aggregate” (such as sand, gravel, and crushed stone) to mitigate environmental impacts.

Selective demolition involves separating hazardous materials and dismantling building components systematically before demolition, rather than just extracting high-value metals. This process allows processed concrete and bricks to be reused. While the European Union has set a 70% recovery target, countries like the Netherlands and Italy have achieved mineral waste recycling rates between 95% and 100%.