Construction and demolition waste management

Discussions regarding construction and demolition waste focus on the economic and environmental benefits of improved management and recycling practices.

Initial assessments highlight that effective waste segregation and strategic planning—such as creating waste stream maps and dedicated container zones—are essential for reducing transport and disposal costs while meeting regulatory requirements. The purity of waste streams, such as separating rubble from gypsum, directly influences unit prices and overall project profitability.

In Turkey, despite the generation of millions of tons of waste annually, recycling rates are estimated to be between 5% and 20%, with most material currently sent to landfills. Experts advocate for “selective demolition” to separate hazardous materials and dismantle components systematically. This approach allows materials like concrete, brick, and wood to be reintegrated into the economy as “secondary aggregate,” such as sand or crushed stone, mirroring high recovery targets and successes seen in the European Union.