Awareness and attitude of latvian construction companies towards sustainability and waste recycling

Abstract

Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) creates the largest waste stream in the European Union. They consist of a heterogeneous mix of different components and constitute large amounts of waste which are often hazardous. Although some CDW is sent for recycling after the stripping and the demolishing of the building, a bigger share of the recovered CDW is restricted to low-value applications. It is widely accepted that reliable strategies and innovative technologies need to be developed to increase the share of CDW-derived materials in new residential constructions while simultaneously minimizing future CDW. Moreover, awareness and understanding the high value of CDW derived materials should be reached to improve building energy efficiency. The aim of the research is to evaluate the level of awareness and attitude towards CDW among Latvian construction companies. It was found out that Latvian construction business community has a positive attitude to waste management activities, and understands its importance in sustainable development.