Critical Analysis of the Risks of Releasing Hazardous Substances from Construction and Demolition Waste

Nowadays, there has been a growing concern for public health and environmental protection caused by pollution with heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), formaldehyde, etc. In Bulgaria, the predominant part of the construction waste is utilized in backfilling without proving their suitability. The ability to use construction waste as a secondary resource, in the context of the circular economy, can also be limited due to the presence of contaminants in recycled materials. This paper examines the risks of hazardous substances leaching from construction and demolition waste after having analyzed groundwater and surface water samples near a construction waste treatment site not far from the city of Sofia.