Italy exceeds EU recycling targets for construction waste

Italy has exceeded European Union recycling targets for construction and demolition waste, reaching a recycling rate of 82.4%. This figure is more than 12 percentage points higher than the EU goal of 70%. According to ISPRA data, construction and demolition activities generated 90.4 million tons of waste in 2024, accounting for 52.5% of the 172 million tons of special waste produced in Italy.

Industry experts from Gruppo Seipa note that while recycling capacity is high, the next phase of the circular economy transition involves ensuring these materials are consistently reintegrated into construction sites as qualified secondary raw materials. Large-scale infrastructure projects, including roads, railways, and urban regeneration, are identified as strategic markets for recycled aggregates.

The regulatory landscape is also shifting. The adoption of Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) for road infrastructure in August 2024 aims to integrate circularity into the design phase of projects rather than just the waste management stage. This development coincides with significant Italian investment programs in rail and road networks, which could act as accelerators for the demand for secondary raw materials.