Circular material flows in construction projects
- optimised mass handling when waste becomes a resource
Today, there is a lack of scientifically supported environmental criteria for determining when materials such as asphalt, concrete, and excavated soil from the construction sector cease to be considered waste. Every year, millions of tons of these materials are generated, which could potentially be transformed into products, providing environmental benefits and cost savings.
As the materials may contain organic and inorganic contaminants, the overall environmental impacts of handling them need to be elucidated and assessed. This is particularly important for the effects on the soil environment, as these materials often come into contact with the ground. In this project, we aim to develop methods for conducting risk assessments to ensure that the materials are recycled in an environmentally safe manner and can contribute to circular flows in the construction industry.
The project is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), the Development Fund of the Swedish Construction Industry (Sveriges Byggindustriernas utvecklingsfond), and CEC.
Contact and more information
Martijn van Praagh
E-mail: martijn [dot] van_praagh [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] se (martijn[dot]van_praagh[at]cec[dot]lu[dot]se)
Phone: +46 46 222 47 42