Automated tools for the valorisation of construction waste (RIA) -

Expected Outcome

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Increase significantly the construction and demolition waste (CDW) utilisation (at least 80% weight in line with the current waste Directive 2008/98/EC[1] as amended by Directive 2018/851[2]) by cascade approach including re-use, recycle and transformation of waste into secondary products in full cooperation between construction and waste management companies
• Provide new value chain and sustainable business models for construction waste reduction mobilising cross sectorial actors;
• Implement appropriate tracing of material and /or component along the new value chain.
• Increase by 50% the reusability of construction products post demolition and reduce the down cycling of construction waste by facilitating modular dismantling of complex construction products;
• Plan a list of actions for overcoming relevant barriers (e.g. end of waste criteria, lack of trust in secondary products, awareness of circular potential);
• Develop holistic and replicable solutions for more circular and climate neutral construction materials and activities involving upstream and down-stream actors.

Relevant indicators and metrics, with baseline values, should be clearly stated in the proposal.

Scope

Based on volume, construction and demolition waste (CDW) is the largest waste stream in the EU. Considering that most of the waste share is glass, concrete, steel and aluminium (or other metals), the embodied energy and embodied eq. CO2 emission in the CDW is significant (8.5 MT eq. CO2 for construction in Sweden in 2015). By reusing and recycling CDW in new constructions, the sector would come closer to the targets of becoming fully circular and climate neutral. Precise quantitative and qualitative waste estimation is crucial for waste management. This could be achieved by utilising digital technologies for instance Building Information Modelling (BIM), material and component tracing, dedicated apps for construction/de-construction and optimize site management. Such tools could provide data about material type and composition (e.g. whether there are hazardous materials that require special care) and quantities, and thus an estimation of the logistics needs, cost, etc. and make waste separation easier and faster, e.g. by combining with automated equipment and robots.

Proposals should:

• Develop, test and promote the necessary digital tools for material and/or component tracing and CDW management in different types of construction or demolition sites. The proposed tools should use as far as possible existing databases for waste management;
• Develop automated solutions for de-construction and waste separation process;
• Implement cross-sectorial holistic solutions involving glass, concrete, steel, ceramics, non-ferrous, etc. from the construction product and material side but also waste management, transportation and construction equipment and machinery side;
• Produce all required training material for the proper use of the developed technologies The content should be sufficiently inclusive and encompass the diversity of different users;
• Demonstrate all developed solutions (reutilisation, recycling, transformation, etc.) in at least four implementation sites across different European countries, considering the material recovery, transformation and utilisation;
• Assess the value of the solutions in terms of the additional monetary value/reduction of eq. CO2 emissions produced;
• Besides the new solutions benefits, safety should be considered (on construction issues, hazardous materials, etc.)
• Proposals should consider the development of learning resources for the current and future generations of employees, with the possibility to integrate them in existing curricula and modules for undergraduate level and lifelong learning programmes. The projects should provide contributions to relevant standards or best practices.
• The projects should provide contributions to relevant standards or best practices.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

In order to achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged, in particular with Asian countries.

Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and achieve TRL 6 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

International Cooperation

[1]Directive 2008/98/EC: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098

[2]Directive 2018/851: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32018L0851

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