Recycling of Materials from Renovation and Demolition of Building Structures in the Spirit of Sustainable Material Engineering

Abstract

In the European Union, more than 20% of residential buildings were constructed prior to 1945 and are approaching the end of their projected lifespan. This necessitates renovations or demolitions of these structures. A study was conducted to analyze the quantity of waste generated during the dismantling of a representative building from that era. Construction waste is produced during the building process and its disposal can be costly. Sustainable material engineering offers a solution by promoting the reuse of waste materials. When designing new products, manufacturers should consider using waste materials and ensure they have an extended lifespan, efficient life cycle management, and sustainable consumption. A study has shown that researchers are currently exploring the potential use of waste steel, bricks, wood, and glass in composite materials. Direct reuse of waste in the construction industry has also been observed. However, users’ preferences show that while environmental concerns are important, good quality and price are still the primary factors that drive consumer demand. Therefore, materials made from waste materials must demonstrate excellent parameters to gain consumer acceptance. Education initiatives such as green building certifications and education programs for construction professionals and the general public can help promote sustainable practices. Despite progress made in sustainable development, there is still a need for further education to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.

Is the Concept of Zero Waste Possible to Implement in Construction?

“…In addition to the phases of the building's life cycle listed in Table 3, education is a very important factor [50,51]. Formally, it is not part of the set of technical concepts that make up the life cycle of a building.…”

Advancements in Textile Roofing Solutions for Challenging Weather Conditions

“…After their use as a roofing material, textile membranes need to be recycled, with several considerations [14][15][16]. Morandi and Monticelli demonstrate a method for recycling textile membranes for subsequent acoustic applications in buildings [17].…”

The recycling of demolition roof tile waste as a resource in the manufacturing of fired bricks: A scale-up to the industry

“…The term "construction and demolition waste" reers to materials and products that are damaged or useless as a result o repair, demolition, and other construction-related activities [1,5]. This waste accounted or 30% o all the waste produced in the EU and 40% o the total municipal solid waste [6,7]. The C&D activities are considered the main source o waste in 2020 [8].…”

“…Steel ractions range rom about 4 to 6%, whereas the largest percentage o plastic is ound in Southern Europe (2.3%) [11]. As one o the main sources o waste, which is ocially landlled in Europe in 35%, but also ends up in wild dumps reaching a total o 54% [6,11], these materials are among the top ve waste products by quantity, and what's even more worrying is that this is predicted to increase in tandem with economic expansion [6,7]. While recycling is o high priority, notwithstanding the signicance o environmental considerations, user preerences indicate that the price/quality relationship remains the main determinant o consumer choice [13].…”