Increased material recycling from construction industry

The construction and infrastructure sector generates a lot of waste and is the single industry that uses the most plastic, second only to the packaging industry.

New legislation from 2021 states that plastic waste shall be collected and handled separately from other waste at construction sites. Even though volumes of sorted plastic increases, less than 1% of the plastic is recycled, and we want to change this.

For more than five years and in several projects, Chalmers Industriteknik and RISE, together with industry, have investigated material recycling of plastic waste from construction sites. The projects have shown possibilities to recycle e.g. cables, pipes, floor mats and plastic packaging. New recycling facilities are built and the technology for recycling is being developed.

Good communication and knowledge of plastics, recycling technology and material quality among all actors in the value chain is a key factor to succeed.

Purchasers, project contractors, managers and supervisors in the construction and recycling industry are some of the key persons that this project address.We plan to record short films for information and inspiration and produce educational material for webinars. This will take place in close collaboration with communicators and a film company.

The material will be distributed in several channels, e.g. through research institutes, trade associations, within major construction companies and waste contractors, as well as recycling companies.