EU Policies and Demolition Gunther Wolff Environment Directorate-General, European Commission

EU Policies: An overview Policies stemming from different areas of legislation can have an impact on a sector Construction and Demolition is concerned by policies from different DGs EMPL ENV Others Problem: difficulty to have an overview of relevant policies at EU level (plus national/regional/local level) This presentation shall explain the main policies Neues Umweltziel: Integration des Lebenszyklusgedankens in die Abfallpolitik und Förderung der Kosteneffizienz

Intro: Sources of EU Law EU Law is not that complicated… or is it? Sources of EU Law: Treaty International agreements (ILO- WHO – IMO – etc) Secondary EU legislation: Directives Regulations Recommendations Resolutions Decisions Case-law – Court of Justice Neues Umweltziel: Integration des Lebenszyklusgedankens in die Abfallpolitik und Förderung der Kosteneffizienz

Sustainable Construction Policies Construction activities underpin most other activities in society: economic, social, environmental, safety & health (infrastructure, buildings, plants, hospitals, schools..) Construction sector can significantly contribute to sustainability Applying the sustainability principle to Construction: Economic aspects: provide the benefits of the construction projects at affordable cost Environmental aspects: Use less energy during construction and use Use less raw materials Cause less pollution and less waste Social aspects: Provide safe workplaces with good social conditions Neues Umweltziel: Integration des Lebenszyklusgedankens in die Abfallpolitik und Förderung der Kosteneffizienz

EMPL: Health and Safety Framework Directive 89/391/EEC Objective: To encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work Scope: All sectors of activity, both public and private with very few exceptions : certain activities within the armed forces or the police or the civil protection General Provision: The employer must ensure the safety and health of workers in every aspect related to the work Neues Umweltziel: Integration des Lebenszyklusgedankens in die Abfallpolitik und Förderung der Kosteneffizienz

EMPL: Health and Safety Framework Directive 89/391/EEC The worker, on the other hand, also has several obligations too, inter alia, follow employers' health and safety instructions or to report potential dangers. The Framework Directive also promotes the workers' right to make proposals relating to health and safety, to appeal to the competent authority and to halt work in the event of serious danger, as part of the participative approach laid down by the Directive. “The underlying goal is to protect the health and safety of workers and ensure that at the end of his/her working day, the worker will return to his/her family in good health”. Neues Umweltziel: Integration des Lebenszyklusgedankens in die Abfallpolitik und Förderung der Kosteneffizienz

Framework Directive 89/391/EEC Individual directives are derived from the framework directive to encourage improvements on safety and health at work - Chemical Agents - Carcinogens - Biological Agents - Asbestos - Workplace - Use of Work Equipment Use of Personal Protective Equipment Construction sites. Physical agents: Vibrations Noise EMF Optical Radiation - On Board Vessels - Maritime Medical Assistance Manual Handling of Loads - Safety Signs - Extractive Industries On basis of Article 137 of the EC Treaty Framework Directive 89/391/EEC

EMPL: Health and Safety Council Directive 92/57/EEC sets minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction site. It highlights the coordination required by the various parties before and during construction: clients/project supervisors have to appoint one or more safety and health coordinators clients/project supervisors have to ensure that a safety and health plan is prepared before the construction phase starts clients/project supervisors have to take safety and health into account when designing the project during the construction phase coordinators have to ensure that risks are adequately managed and that the health and safety plan is taken into account cooperation between employers in matters of safety and health has to be implemented and procedures monitored. Neues Umweltziel: Integration des Lebenszyklusgedankens in die Abfallpolitik und Förderung der Kosteneffizienz

Construction and Demolition Wastes Construction and Demolition Wastes: Over 500 M t/a in the EU Approx. 55% of CDW are recycled Diverging recycling rates in the EU: D, B, NL, DK > 80% E, P, GR < 20% Conclusions: Valuable ressources, recycling rates can be increased Hazardous substances have to be separated Selective Deconstruction is crucial

ENV: Waste Policies Principles: The new Waste Framework Directive (WFD) Published: Nov 2008, entered into force: Dec 2008 Deadline for MS transposition 12 December 2010 Principles: Minimise the negative environmental impacts Waste prevention From cradle to cradle Waste as a valuable resource Waste hierarchy

Waste Hierarchy PREVENTION PREPARING FOR REUSE RECYCLING (COMPOSTING) OTHER RECOVERY (ENERGY RECOVERY) DISPOSAL

WFD – practical implications for Construction and Demolition Wastes Prevention of Negative effects on human health and environment Hazardous Wastes Cannot be mixed Separation required Treatment/Disposal in authorised facilities Examples: Asbestos ODS foams Special case: gypsum Recycling target: by 2020, the preparing for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste excluding naturally occurring material defined in category 17 05 04 in the list of waste shall be increased to a minimum of 70 % by weight.

More infos? EU Construction Information Portal: www.exploreconstruction.eu

Thank you for your attention European Commission – DG ENV.C2 Sustainable Consumption and Production Beaulieulaan 5 B-1160 Brussel Thank you for your attention http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/index.htm