The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) started the year with the publication of a study on Techno-economic and environmental assessment of construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in the EU.
With this study, the JRC confirms Glass for Europe’s position that recycling flat glass is the most beneficial end-of-life option for building glass and glazing. Most flat glass products are already designed-for-dismantling to facilitate their removal from building and collection at their end-of-life.
The study analyses different management options, including selective demolition and design-for-deconstruction, which facilitates closed loop recycling (flat glass to flat glass). Technology-wise, the study finds that the potential of flat glass sent to recycling is 100 percent, representing in practice 97 percent of flat glass waste recycled, corrected for process losses.
From the environment perspective, the study confirms that the presence of recycled flat glass, i.e., cullet, which requires less heat to melt compared to virgin raw materials, “allows the glass furnace to be operated at a lower temperature, thus leading to significant primary energy savings”. The JRC’s scenario of maximum recycling potential of flat glass shows a high GHG emissions savings potential.
Although progress has been made in the recent years, there are remaining sources of cullet that could be returned to flat glass furnaces, in particular from CDW, of which little is recycled today. To tap into the remaining flat glass recycling potential, Glass for is Europe is calling for a closed-loop model, whereby flat glass is used to manufacture new flat glass, and through which high quality recycled content is made available in an economically viable manner.
Glass for Europe requests a ban on landfilling of waste building glass from construction and demolition projects, as well as a strengthening of the glass provisions from the Landfill.
This European Commission’s study will support reflection on future EU legislation, especially after the European elections. The JRC plans to perform a subsequent analysis with the objective to identify policy measures to improve CDW management.
Glass for Europe is looking forward to the next steps in the reflection on future EU CDW policy aiming at increasing closed loop flat glass recycling and is available to feed the process with relevant information and data.