A Dynamic Model for Construction and Demolition (C&amp;D) Waste Management in Spain: Driving Policies Based on Economic Incentives and Tax Penalties

Nuria Calvo,Isabel Novo-Corti,Laura Varela-Candamio

doi:10.3390/su6010416

Abstract

According to the recent Spanish legislation, the amount of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) by weight must be reduced by at least 70% by 2020. However, the current behavior of the stakeholders involved in the waste management process make this goal difficult to achieve. In order to boost changes in their strategies, we firstly describe an Environmental Management System (EMS) based on regulation measures and economic incentives which incorporate universities as a key new actor in order to create a 3Rs model (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) in the C&D waste management with costs savings. The target areas are focused mainly on producer responsibility, promotion of low-waste building technologies and creation of green jobs to fulfill three main objectives: valorization of inert wastes, elimination of illegal landfills and stimulation of demand for recycled C&D wastes. To achieve this latter goal, we have also designed a simulation model—using the Systems Dynamic methodology—to assess the potential impact of two policies (incentives and tax penalties) in order to evaluate how the government can influence the behavior of the firms in the recycling system of C&D waste aggregates. This paper finds a broader understanding of the socioeconomic implications of waste management over time and the positive effects of these policies in the recycled aggregates market in order to achieve the goal of 30% C&D waste aggregates in 12 years or less.

Highlights

In Spain, the construction sector had a key role in the economic and social development of the country until the arrival of the crisis [1]
This paper finds a broader understanding of the socioeconomic implications of waste management over time and the positive effects of these policies in the recycled aggregates market in order to achieve the goal of 30% C&D waste aggregates in 12 years or less
We considered a scenario of demand for aggregates to be used in construction with an initial growth combined with the subsequent period of stagnation (Figure 5)

Summary

Introduction

In Spain, the construction sector had a key role in the economic and social development of the country until the arrival of the crisis [1]. C&D management has become an environmental problem, not because of its hazardous nature (since it is mostly inert) but for the lack of treatment of these wastes, which are taken to landfill in an uncontrolled way [2] This situation ties down the landfill space, increases the number of illegal dumping and generates social opposition to the environmental degradation caused by the demolition process [3]. For this reason, in recent years, models for managing C&D waste have been developed trying to reconcile economic progress with sustainable construction and demolition projects [4,5,6,7,8,9].

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Conclusion