Construction Waste

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Construction Waste

What is Construction & Demolition Waste?

Construction and Demolition Waste (C&D Waste) is defined as the waste comprising of building materials, debris and rubble resulting from construction, remodeling, repair and demolition of any civil structure.

Sources of C&D Waste:

  1. Construction of new buildings;
  2. Renovation of existing buildings;
  3. Demolition of old buildings;
  4. Excavation / laying of asphalt/concrete roads
  5. Installation and service of public utilities (telephone/water/electricity/sewage pipelines)
  6. Construction/renovation of public infrastructure (bridges/flyovers).

Composition of C & D Waste:

The composition of C&D Waste is city-specific as well as project-specific and differs according to the rate of urbanization, the pace of developmental activity and re-development of the city. The composition also varies according to the project and depends on the age and type of building.

C&D waste can be broadly categorized into four streams such as:

  1. Concrete
  2. Soil
  3. Steel, wood & plastics
  4. Bricks & mortar

Management Options for Construction and Demolition Waste:

A) Centralized Waste Management:

Major components of C& D wastes have the potential to be reused / recycled and profitable use of recycled C&D waste minimizes the cost of managing such waste and requirement for valuable landfill space, besides generating employment opportunities.

MoUD vide its circular dated 28th June, 2012 and provisions laid under C & D waste Rules, 2016, mandates for cities with population > one million to set up and implement C & D waste recycling facilities within 18 months.

B) Decentralized waste management

Decentralized waste management is the best suited option for C&D waste and can be implemented by concerned Urban Local Bodies as below:

  • Notify suitable locations in different parts of the city within 2.5 to 3 km in cities above 1 Lakh population for non-bulk waste generators having small quantities of C&D waste under 1MT load.
  • Create a system of renting skips or containers for storage of C&D waste at source departmentally or through an authorized private operator, where the generation of such waste is greater than 1 MT.
  • Crushing of waste at collection points / demarcated areas into small size to reduce volume and cost of transportation. Besides cost savings, use of on-site crushers to produce aggregates can reduce the transportation impacts of a project associated with the removal of C & D waste from site and the transportation of quarried aggregates.

Prescribed rates for collection and transportation of C&D waste to be published or notified by concerned ULBs/ Municipal Corporations.

C) Reuse of C&D waste: It can be effectively used in several ways:

  • As inert material for low-lying areas, landscaping;
  • Processed C&D waste can be used for road and embankment construction;
  • Finer grade can be molded into bricks, blocks, slabs & aggregates with appropriate binder;
  • The finer grade can also be used as daily cover for landfill sites; and
  • Low cost housing. 

Regulatory Framework:

Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management Rules, 2016 were notified on 29th March, 2016 by MoEF&CC.

Hyperlink:

Duties of the waste generator:

  • Collection, Storage and Segregation of C&D waste into four streams, i.e., concrete, soil, steel, wood and plastics, bricks and mortar.
  • Ensure not to mix C&D waste with other solid waste.
  • Ensure that there is no littering or deposition of C&D waste in public places or drains.
  • Shall pay relevant charges for collection, transportation, processing and disposal as notified by the concerned authorities.
  • Bulk waste generators who generate more than 20 tons in one day or 300 tons per project in a month shall have to pay for processing and disposal of C& D waste apart from collection and transportation charges.
  • Bulk waste generators shall submit waste management plan and get appropriate approvals from the local authority before starting construction or any other related activity.

Duties of local authority:

  • To ensure proper collection and management of C&D waste as per norms laid under C&D Waste Management Rules, 2016, by itself or through private operators.
  • To issue directions to waste generators within respective jurisdictions and seek detailed plans accordingly.
  • To ensure provisions for giving incentives for use of material made out of construction and demolition waste in the construction activity including in non-structural concrete, paving blocks, lower layers of road pavements, colony and rural roads’.
  • To keep track of C&D waste generated within its jurisdiction and establish a database, updated on yearly basis.
  • To create awareness regarding C&D waste.

Note:Site for establishment of C&D waste storage and processing facilities should be away from habitation clusters, forest areas, water bodies, national parks, monuments, wetlands and places of important cultural, historical or religious interest.

Highlights of CPCB guidelines on dust mitigation measures in handling Construction material & C& D wastes, 2017

  • Waste Generators should be advised to ensure to mount dust barrier sheet like tarpaulin / plastic on scaffolding around the construction / demolition building.
  • Transport vehicles carrying construction / C&D waste should be covered with jute, plastic or tarpaulin sheet;
  • Prohibition on storing / dumping Construction and C&D wastes on metalled roads-
  • Storage of dust borne waste in covered areas / sealed bags; and
  • Builders should ensure raising of barricade along the perimeter;