Connective Cities organised an expert forum on the topic of disposal and recycling of construction waste. Key issues at the workshop included the aspects of (interim) storage of construction waste, the handling of hazardous substances in construction waste and the modalities of reusing construction waste.

Ms Monika Lichtinghagen-Wirths, Managing Director of the Bergischer Abfallwirtschaftsverband, emphasised the importance of mineral waste, which accounts for 67% of waste in Germany. The :metabolon research project with the Technical University of Cologne is researching new recycling recipes.

Gabi Schock, Chair of the Committee of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, pointed out that construction waste often does not have the same priority as water supply, emergency aid or hygiene in the event of a disaster, e.g. a bomb attack. How can crisis-proof waste management concepts be developed?

Bart Gruyaert, project manager at Neo-Eco Ukraine, a French organisation that carries out concrete projects in the field of disposal and recycling of construction waste in Ukraine, described a good practice from one of their projects in which veterans are involved in the dismantling of affected buildings. Yana Naumenko, Head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the administration of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, emphasised the importance of the topic: ‘In Ukraine, the quantities of construction waste are enormous and international cooperation for the exchange of experience and expert advice makes sense. There is a great demand for training courses on the handling and recycling of construction waste.

Andrii Soronchinsky, Head of the Department for Economic Development, Trade and Investment in the Poltava Oblast, mentioned the benefits of cooperation with the Bergischer Abfallverband as part of the utility platform project with GIZ.