Skip to main content

Action demanded to meet EU recycling targets

The European Quality Association (EQAR) held a congress on Recycling of Building Materials in Europe and concluded there is a need for action. Manfred Wierichs, president of EQAR, demanded intensified efforts for reaching more efficiency of resources in the field of mineral building materials. Jo Leinen, chairman of the Environment Committee of the European Parliament, speaking at the meeting in Brussels, Belgium,
May 9, 2012 Read time: 1 min
The 5473 European Quality Association for Recycling (EQAR) held a congress on Recycling of Building Materials in Europe and concluded there is a need for action.
Manfred Wierichs, president of EQAR, demanded intensified efforts for reaching more efficiency of resources in the field of mineral building materials.
Jo Leinen, chairman of the Environment Committee of the European Parliament, speaking at the meeting in Brussels, Belgium, told participants that climate protection, efficiency of resources and recycling, range among the priority targets of the EU.

The EU Commission estimates that so far only 50% (20% in some countries) of the 300-700 million tonnes of mineral construction and demolition waste produced throughout Europe every year are recycled. It is the target of the EU to achieve a recycling rate of at least 70% for building and demolition waste.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Shell’s John Read explains “adaptable bitumen” developments
    December 15, 2016
    Shell’s highly innovative bitumen and asphalt solutions are helping create future-ready urban road networks around the world to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. Shell’s general manager of bitumen technology, Professor John Read, takes a look at some of the company’s game-changing ideas. The next 30 or so years will see a significant transformation in the way we live. Whereas almost 75% of the world’s population lived in rural locations in 1950, around 75% will live in cities by 2050. The global popu
  • ARTBA reports green success in US
    March 1, 2012
    A new report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) says that the US transportation sector has been instrumental in improving the country's environment over the past 40 years.
  • A new road safety drive will cut crashes in Europe
    February 22, 2013
    The ERF is amongst the campaigners for a safer road network. Safety is of crucial importance given the large number of fatalities on Europe’s road network. In 2012 alone, more than 30,000 people died on European roads, resulting in a negative impact on social, economic and health factors. Road safety has become a priority not only for the EU institutions but also at international level for the United Nations with the launching of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Traditionally, improvements in road safe
  • EU road safety – slight gains
    September 21, 2018
    A slow improvement is being seen on Europe’s roads in terms of safety. In 2017, 25,250 people were killed in road crashes in the EU. This represents a 2% reduction from the road death rate for the EU in 2016. However there is concern that progress with road safety is too slow as the road death rate for the EU has fallen by only 3% in the last four years. Of the 32 countries monitored by the PIN Programme, 22 reduced road deaths in 2017 . The best results were achieved by Estonia with a 32% decrease