Use of recycled aggregates in construction sector – Slovenian experience

Abstract

The construction sector is resource-intensive and has a significant environmental impact. Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) is one of the largest waste streams accounting for over 33% of all waste in the EU and nearly 75% in Slovenia. Recycling CDW into aggregates can reduce carbon footprint, conserve resources, and support the circular economy. However, CDW must meet specific environmental and technical requirements to end its waste status and be used as construction material. In Slovenia, recycled aggregates can achieve End of Waste status on the basis of criteria and conditions for case-by-case decisions, set in the Environment Protection Act, and following the Decree on Waste, which sets the limits for chemical parameters in leachates. Unfortunately, the use of recycled aggregates in Slovenia is still limited, with most CDW being used for backfilling rather than in concrete, asphalt, or unbound layers. The number of companies producing recycled aggregates is growing, but there’s significant room for improvement. One area for improvement is the acceptance procedures for CDW before processing. Monitoring has revealed occasional high levels of sulphates and chromium. To address this, new methods should be introduced to identify problematic waste, thus improving the environmental acceptance of recycled aggregates.

Read the full article in the Conference proceedings: 8th Scientific-Expert Meeting “Roads and Environment” (Vrnjaćka Banja, Serbia, pages 280 – 287)

Celoten članek (v angleškem jeziku) lahko preberete v zborniku 8. znanstveno-strokovnega srečanja »Ceste in okolje« (Vrnjaćka Banja, Srbija; strani 280 – 287)