Approximately 1,500 to 2,500 lakh tonnes of C&D Waste is documented in India every year.
It is mentioned under the Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management Rules, 2016 given by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
These rules should come into force on 1st April 2026.
What is Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste?
Construction and Demolition Waste means the waste resulting from any construction, repair and demolition of any civil structure. It comprises soil, sand and gravel, bricks and masonry, concrete, metal, wood, plastic, and such other items.
Significance of these rules:
- Extended producer responsibility is the responsibility of a producer to manage construction and demolition waste and meet recycling targets.
- It is designed to prevent unscientific disposal of C&D waste and encourage recycling and resource efficiency.
- These rules are required to reduce pollution from waste dumping. Disposal of such debris in a safe environment is a big challenge for the builders, developers, and owners.
- When on one hand the disposal of debris is a challenge, then, on the other hand, there is an acute shortage of naturally available aggregates for the construction of buildings.
- We can lower this demand by reusing or recycling of waste generated from the construction activities.
Who do these rules apply on?
- Producer: They are waste generators, who have built complex projects having a built-up area of 20,000 square meters and above. (>20,000 sq.m.).
- Operator of Intermediate Waste Storage Facility: It is a facility where storage, segregation, and treatment on the materials out of construction and demolition waste is carried out.
- Recycler: The one who is engaged in the recovery of reusable material from construction and demolition waste.
Materials classified as Construction and Demolition Waste
-
A. Excavation soil
- Plant Soil
- Soil
- Sand
- Gravel
- Rock
- Clay
B. Roadwork Waste
- Concrete
- Broken asphalt
- Paving Stone
- Sand
- Pebble
- Railway Traverse
-
C. Construction & Demolition Waste
- Concrete with iron
- Concrete without iron
- Roofing Cover (Tile)
- Roofing Cover (Wood)
- Roofing Cover (Isolation material)
- Bricks
- Briquett
- Gypsum
- Stucco
- Plastics
- Ceramics
- Metals
Construction and Demolition Waste may be recycled into:
- Ready Mix Concrete
- Hollow Bricks
- Pavement Blocks
- Kerbstone
- Granular Sub Base (GSB)
- Manufactured Sand
- Loose Soil/Excavated Soil
- Aggregates
- Tiles
- Chequered Tile
- Brick Tile
- Dumble Tile
- Wall Tile
- Interlocking Tile
- Tactile Tiles
Summary
