EU28 generates around 500 million tons per year (in weight, a third of the total generated waste) of Construction and Demolition Waste (C&DW), ever more complex due to construction evolution (e.g. polymers, composites). Despite the high recovery potential, current EU average recycling rate is ca. 50%, versus 70% recovery target established by EU for 2020, in line with Europe’s transition towards a circular economy.
An efficient recovery of raw materials from buildings requires both enhanced identification and segregation of materials at demolition/refurbishment works (production of less complex waste streams, thus enabling a more efficient recycling) and new integral recycling approaches.
Moreover, the inclusion of such recycled products in the European Standards and Directives can foster their market acceptance.
In this context, the main goal of HISER has been to develop and demonstrate solutions for a higher recovery of raw materials from this ever more complex C&DW.
One of the most important outcomes of the project is a smart tool (HISER BIM-SD) based on building information modelling. HISER BIM-SD produces a building inventory, enabling engineers to determine the types, qualities, and quantities of building waste materials that will be generated. Compatible with almost any portable device, it is easy to use at any worksite.
Several technologies have been also developed to support sorting, breakdown, and automated quality assessment to produce raw materials with purities between 80-100 % for incorporation into new building products.
HISER has also produced low CO2 cement, cost-effective green concrete, bricks, plasterboards and wood-polymer composites with recovered stony aggregates, ceramic, sand, gypsum, wood and mineral wool.
This combination of preliminary identification, onsite classification, automatic sorting and advanced recycling technologies is making circular economy possible in the construction sector.
The HISER project may have ended but its work and vision continue with important impact on the construction sector and the environment.