Denmark aims to increase the recycling of construction materials

The Danish government has recently approved a new legislation mandating recycling plans for buildings exceeding 250 square meters scheduled for demolition.

By State of Green | [email protected]

21 March 2024

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When large buildings are demolished, more building materials must be repurposed for other construction projects.

This was the consensus in the Danish parliament as a new legislation aimed to enhance recycling was approved to take effect from 1 July 2024. Under this impending regulation, buildings exceeding 250 square meters scheduled for demolition mandate recycling plans.

Representing approximately 6,700 companies engaged in construction and related sectors, DI – Danish Construction asserts that opportunities for recycling are extensive, and optimising these beyond current practices carry vast potential.

“I have high hopes that we will recycle much more of the materials that would otherwise be sent to landfill. Currently, we are in the early stage, but now that we get the processes going, we can increase the scalability. So now we have to train people so that they know how it should be done,” says Anders Stouge, Director at DI – Danish Construction.

Energy-renovation of buildings key to reaching climate targets

Today, 40% of Denmark’s total waste originates from construction activities, equating to roughly five million tons annually, as per the Ministry of the Environment.

“We can’t keep extracting sand and gravel. We need to recycle more. It is so irrational that we do not recycle the materials. Today, most of it goes out to incineration plants. It must be sorted on site so that it can be recycled. We have to make plans for recyclable materials,” says Magnus Heunicke, the Danish Minister for the Environment.

The construction and utilisation of buildings constitute approximately 30% of Denmark’s CO2 emissions. Given this impact, prioritising repurpose of materials and energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings are cornerstones for achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

This necessity is underscored by the fact that 85% of the buildings projected to be accommodated in the EU by 2050 are already standing today. Moreover, approximately three quarters of existing buildings within the European Union fall short of modern energy efficiency standards.

Expected impacts

The Ministry of Environment expects, that the new legislation and existing technology will ensure that:

14% of high quality concrete can be reused and that 12% can be recycled into new materials.
60% of unprocessed wood can be reused , and that 9% can be recycled.
Approximately 27% of tiles, clinkers, and bricks can be recycled.

Currently, close to 0% of these mentioned materials are being repurposed.

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