International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

40.6.1 Environmental Benefits – Prevention
The scale of the environmental benefits provided as a result of the work of the
National Construction and Demolition Waste Council is difficult to judge due to the
lack of sound available information on C&D waste management in Ireland.
In terms of C&D waste prevention and minimisation; one of the objectives of the
NCDWC was the preparation of a manual titled ‘C&D Waste Minimisation Guide’. A
Public tender to procure a company to undertake this work was conducted in early
2006. It has since been reported that a ‘C&D Waste Minimisation Guide’ has been
completed, however the manual has not received the approval of all the Council’s
Sub-Committees. As a result the ‘C&D Waste Minimisation Guide’ has not been
published by the Council. Had this guide/manual been published, it is likely that it
would have impacted positively on C&D waste prevention and thus the environment.
This guide/manual will now need to be revised to take account of the new Waste
Permit Regulations.
It is hoped that the issue of more accurate site management reducing the necessity
for returned concrete surpluses can be addressed through the publication of the ‘C&D
Waste Minimisation Guide’ 746.
40.6.2 Environmental Benefits Associated with Recycling
Again, the scale of the environmental benefits provided as a result of the work of the
National Construction and Demolition Waste Council is difficult to judge due to the
lack of sound available information on C&D waste management in Ireland.
The National Construction and Demolition Waste Council has promoted and
accelerated the recycling and recovery of C&D waste thus reducing the industry’s
previous dependence on landfill as a waste management tool. In particular, Subcommittee
B within the NCDWC was formed to examine the issues associated with
Markets and Specifications for C&D waste.
In June 2004, new specifications were introduced by the NRA, which allow the use of
recycled materials for sub-base applications. Sub-Committee B worked with the NRA
in the promotion of the revised specifications. This was a major development as it
provided an incentive for recycling concrete. Designers can now specify to the
EN13242 standard thereby assuring clients that recycled materials are subject to a
similar production control system as virgin aggregates.
In 2004, the Council produced a non-technical report of the revised specifications for
distribution to relevant organisations. This correspondence included a request that
consideration be given to the use of recycled aggregate.
The Homebond House Building Manual was identified by Sub-Committee B as a
further source for highlighting the potential for reusing recycled concrete in non
structural applications. The National Construction and Demolition Waste Council is
746 Irish Concrete Federation, Annual Report 2007.
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