On 22 November 2008, the new Waste Framework Directive (WFD) 2008/98/EC was published in the Official Journal of the Europen Union.

The new WFD includes EU-wide recycling targets for construction and demolition waste.

Core to the new Directive is the introduction of a waste management hierarchy Member States need to apply when developing waste policy. This hierarchy is as follows:

1. Waste prevention
2. Re-use
3. Recycling
4. Recovery (including energy recovery)
5. Disposal

The Directive considers energy-efficient waste incineration a recovery operation. 

The Directive also sets new recycling targets. One is that by 2020, a minimum of 70% of construction and demolition waste will need to be re-used, recycled or otherwise recovered.

For household waste (paper, plastic, metal and glass) this figure is 50%. 

Excluded from the scope of this Directive are e.g:

• Land (in situ) including unexcavated contaminated soil and buildings permanently connected with land
• Uncontaminated soil and other naturally occurring material excavated in the course of construction activities where it is certain that the material will be used for the purposes of construction in its natural state on the site from which it was excavated.

Member States will have until 12 December 2010 to transpose this Directive into national legislation.

A draft copy of the Directive is available for download at the right-hand side of the screen.

If you would like more information please contact Sander Scheurwater at sscheurwater@rics.org