Critical issues hindering a widespread construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycling practice in EU countries and actions to undertake. The stakeholder’s perspective

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) reuse and recycling represents a key point to enhance resource efficiency in construction sector and to reduce the huge volumes of extracted materials, energy consumption and waste production, which make this sector the largest resource consuming and waste producing one. Even if several alternatives for raw materials substitution have been widely investigated from a technical and economic point, several critical issues hinder a wide substitution rate of virgin raw materials with CDW valorised streams slowing down the circular economy transition. The aim of this research was to individuate and discuss these issues hindering a widespread CDW recycling practice in order to individuate actions to undertake, that can support policies and action plans. The investigation was conducted through desk research and a survey, through the administration of questionnaires and more focused guided interviews. Difficulties and barriers have been analysed and suggestions to improve waste recycling and reuse have been proposed. The state of implementation of policies, actions and best practices such as Green Public Procurement (GPP); b) End of Waste (EoW) criteria; c) pre-demolition audit; d) selective demolition; e) landfill tax; f) tax on raw material extraction; g) traceability system; h) take-back centres, have been examined and discussed. Finally, ideas and suggestions aimed at directing the correct implementation of policies, initiatives and action plans, starting from the successful experiences of some countries that could be effectively transferred in other ones and, trying to take advantage of the difficulties encountered in the implementation process, have been proposed.