Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) is by volume the largest waste stream in the European Union. Although a vast majority of CDW is recyclable and reusable, one of the common barriers to recycling and reuse of CDW is the lack of confidence in the quality of recovered materials and components.

This document from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland extends the Waste Audit Guideline published by the European Commission in 2017. The Guideline provides information about the best practices for the assessment of CDW streams prior to demolition or renovation of buildings or infrastructure, called “waste audit”.

The aim of the Guideline is to facilitate and maximize recovery of materials and components for beneficial reuse and recycling without compromising the safety measures and practices outlined in the EU Construction & Demolition Waste Management Protocol.