“90 percent of the rubble is recyclable”

11.4 million tons of construction and demolition waste is generated in Austria every year. Of this, eight million tons are recycled, that is about 70 percent.

According to the Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies (VOEB), the recycling rate could increase to 90 percent in the next five years. In a European comparison, Austria is already well positioned when it comes to recycling, but there is still room for improvement. “I am confident that in the next five years we will be recycling more than 90 percent of all construction and demolition waste”construction recycling expert Alois Fürnkranz was quoted by VOEB in a broadcast.

Innovation driver Green Deal

There are already a number of companies that specialize in recycling building rubble with high-quality processing systems. “The EU’s Green Deal has led to an incredible boost in innovation in all aspects of ecological construction”says VOEB President Gabriele Jüly.

In the construction industry, rubble is reused in the form of recycled building materials. The association expects the demand for such reprocessed building materials to increase in the coming years, also because of the EU directive on corporate sustainability reporting that will apply from 2024. “Because every construction measure must be checked and documented with regard to specific sustainability criteria”, says Fürnkranz. Recycled building materials are an essential step towards climate-neutral construction, in addition to efficient use of materials and less energy-intensive building materials and types.