The construction and demolition sector is responsible for about a third of all waste generated in the European Union. Our big goals are to
The industrialisation of the construction process is key to reduce waste: By prefabricating concrete structures in a weather-proof, industrial environment, we can decrease potential mistakes on-site and avoid waste being created in the first place.
Additionally, we will focus on splitting waste streams better and trying to find suitable applications for those waste streams. We acknowledge that what might be waste for us, might still be a valuable resource for others. By setting up partnerships across our value chain we will try to valorize our waste streams, keeping them in the loop as materials and therefore accelerating the circular economy.
Waste streams*
Our top-6 waste streams account for 99.8% of the total amount of waste and are therefore the most material waste streams.
* Companies that we’re reporting on: all Cordeel Group companies in Belgium, the Netherlands & Bulgaria. Exceptions: Technocon, C-EVH, Vita groep, C-bernard
| Wastestream | Weight in tons |
|---|---|
| Construction and demolition waste | 14,378.9 |
| Stony material | 5,647.4 |
| Residual waste | 3,275.9 |
| Wood | 1,514.1 |
| Metal | 1,242.2 |
| Paper & cardboard | 68,5 |
| Other waste streams | 41.3 |
| Total | 26,168.3 |
| Waste intensity | 30.44 tons/ mio € revenue |
(Non-) Hazardous waste
* Companies that we’re reporting on: all Cordeel Group companies in Belgium, the Netherlands & Bulgaria. Exceptions: Technocon, C-EVH, Vita groep, C-bernard
| Type | Processing | Weight in tons |
|---|---|---|
| Hazardous waste | Total weight hazardous waste | 11.48 |
| Preparation for reuse | 0.34 | |
| Recycling | 0.2 | |
| Other recovery operations | 10.94 | |
| Incineration | 0 | |
| Landfilling | 0 | |
| Non-hazardous waste | Total weight non-hazardous waste | 25,141.2 |
| Preparation for reuse | 8.46 | |
| Recycling | 1,747.77 | |
| Other recovery operations | 21,718.61 | |
| Incineration | 22.76 | |
| Landfilling | 1,643.6 |
(Non-) hazardous waste
Overstocks are given to material banks or thrift shops (“Kringloopwinkel”) so that the materials get a second life.
Materials that return from construction sites of Cordeel zetel Temse and are not reused on other construction sites in a certain period are also given to material banks
The remaining surplus of concrete is used to produce jerseys that are used on our HQ in Temse, construction sites or in Zutendaal at C-ground.
Steel waste from production is given to the supplier of connection bolts. They are producing new bolts from it which we use for the transportation of our prefab elements. Additional steel waste represents only 3-4% of the total weight.
Formwork wood waste: The formwork is being reused as long as possible. Recycling of unusable pieces and pieces that are too small
Since Q4 2023 we give the “throwaway pallets” in Temse to Recubela. Instead of being recycled or incinerated, they are being restored by a social enterprise and eventually sold again. This avoids costs and waste on our side and the consumption of new resources for the production of pallets. In 2023, we saved 165 pallets from going to waste together with Recubela.
In September, our construction sites participated in the World Cleaup Day. They used the last hour of the workweek to tidy up the construction sites to have a clean and organised site.
Target
The vast majority of feedback received on the processing of our waste is currently “other recovery operations”. We want to get more insights in the actual processing of our waste.
