Construction & Demolition Waste and Circular Economy: The Case Study of a Brazilian City

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is a significant waste stream in Brazil. It represents 38.2% of the total CDW and MSW streams. The recycling of CDW in Brazil is estimated to be at least 7.2% by weight (collected CDW) or about 15% by volume (produced CDW). Therefore, only a tiny part of CDW is returned to construction activities. On the other hand, 48.9% of the total amount of the top fifty extracted minerals in the country is sand and gravel, which is used in the national construction industry. Considering the unexplored recycling potential of CDW, part of the total amount of extracted sand and gravel could be saved. This work aims to present a diagnosis of the management of CDW in Brazil and to estimate the potential contribution to the reduction of raw material consumption through intensive recycling of this waste, using the case study of Rio de Janeiro. Among the results of this research, it was estimated that approximately 10.3% of the natural aggregates consumed could be replaced by recycled aggregates. Furthermore, it was observed that the construction industry still operates in a linear economy and that the management of CDW is largely based on disposal in sanitary landfills, mixed with municipal solid waste, and in backfilling operations. The information and data presented have been gathered from specialized literature and direct contacts with local authorities.