New measures to recycle construction waste

The cabinet on Wednesday approved the creation of a technical committee for the more sustainable handling of construction waste.

According to EU law, member states are obliged to adopt the appropriate measures to increase by at least 70 per cent the reuse and recycling of construction waste, as well as their safe disposal.

Despite the agriculture ministry’s efforts to find the appropriate channels for the distribution of reusable materials in the market, large amounts are piling up at processing units due to diminishing demand.

This pointed towards the need to create a framework that would address any legislative, institutional and procedural gaps in the handling of these materials. The department of environment has prepared a new bill proposal which will soon be submitted to the cabinet for approval.

Led by the agriculture minister, the technical committee will consist of representatives from the interior ministry, the public works department, the environment department, the geological survey department and the mines service.