Construction and demolition waste: how to sort on site and pay less
Demolitions and building refurbishments produce large volumes of waste in a short time. Most of it isn't rubbish but recoverable material: iron, cables, wood, plastic, concrete that can become aggregate. The difference between an expense and a saving is made on site, through sorting.
In short
- Construction and demolition waste is in chapter 17 of the list; asbestos materials and contaminated soil are hazardous and handled separately.
- A mixed container costs money; separate fractions — metal, wood, plastic, clean rubble — cost less or can be sold.
- Metal and cables from demolition can cover a significant share of the total disposal cost.
What waste a construction site produces
Construction and demolition waste is grouped in chapter 17 of the waste list. It covers concrete, bricks and tiles, wood, glass and plastic, metals — iron and steel, copper, aluminium —, cables, and mixed construction waste.
The chapter also has hazardous codes, marked with an asterisk: asbestos-containing materials, contaminated soil, waste containing coal tar. These are identified before demolition and managed separately, by operators licensed specifically for them.
Why sorting on site matters
A container of mixed waste is classed under the code for mixtures and usually ends up at a sorting plant or landfill, both of which you pay for. The same materials, separated on site, each have their own destination: metal is sold, wood and plastic are recovered, clean concrete can be crushed and reused.
The EU Waste Framework Directive, transposed in Romania by OUG 92/2021, sets a target of at least 70% for preparing for reuse, recycling and recovery of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste. Sorting at source is the only realistic way to get there.
Metal from demolition: the part that pays
Steel structures, rebar, ducting, sheet metal, cables and electrical installations are usually the most valuable fraction of an industrial demolition. One container for iron and another for non-ferrous metals and cables can cover a significant share of the total disposal cost.
We have the equipment for bulky scrap — a grapple crane, Abrollkipper trucks, heavy-duty tippers — and collect straight from the site. Metal is weighed on receipt, and the amount is calculated by grade.
Organising the site and the paperwork
Plan from the start how many containers you need and for which fractions: usually metal, wood, plastic and clean rubble, plus one container for everything else. Label them clearly and tell the crews what goes where — a single bag of household rubbish can spoil a container of clean concrete.
Every load leaves the site with the loading-unloading form required by HG 1061/2008, and the quantities go into the waste record of the company that generates the waste — usually the contractor or the client, depending on the contract.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you take rubble as well, not just metal?
- We provide containers for metal, wood, plastic and recyclable rubble. For rubble, the condition is that it's clean, with no household rubbish or hazardous materials mixed in.
- Who has to keep the waste record for a construction site?
- The company that generates the waste — usually the contractor or the client, as the contract specifies. Settle this from the start, so transport forms are issued in the right name.
- What should I do if I find asbestos during demolition?
- Stop work in that area and call in an operator licensed specifically for asbestos waste. Don't mix it into ordinary containers: it's a health hazard, and mixing contaminates the whole container.
This article is informational and reflects our practice at the date of publication. Romanian environmental legislation changes frequently — for your company's specific situation, check the texts in force and consult the environmental protection agency or a specialist adviser.