Website of Finland’s environmental administration

Sustainable circular and bioeconomy

Construction waste

The indicators describe the development of construction waste quantities and their recovery. Construction and demolition waste is the second largest type of waste in Finland. The goal of the waste directive is to utilize 70 % of construction and demolition waste. The goals have not yet been achieved. The amount and harmfulness of the construction and demolition waste generated can be minimized, and usability can be increased by, for example, selective demolition of buildings.

The development of construction and demolition waste quantities and recovery is described by the following indicators:

  • Amount of waste generated in the construction industry by waste hazardousness
  • Amount of waste generated in the construction industry by waste type
  • Material recovery of construction and demolition waste and the recycling rate

You can view the indicator data from the attached Excel or from the graphs below.

Construction waste (xlsx, 43 KB)
Construction and demolition waste refers to waste generated during the construction, renovation and demolition of a building or other fixed structure, civil engineering and other construction and demolition activities.
 
In 2023 waste generation in the construction industry rose to 12,5 million tons. The share of hazardous waste was 1.9 percent, which was slightly more than in the previous year.
The majority, approximately 97 percent, of construction waste was mineral waste. The second most generated waste type was wood waste, which was 234,000 tons in 2023. The amount of wood waste from construction has been declining.
 
About 10 percent of construction waste originates from house construction. According to the estimate, the amount of waste from repair and demolition activities constitutes the main part of the waste from house construction.
 
Construction waste amounts vary according to the general economic situation and thus the amount of construction.

References

Statistics Finland: Waste Statistics

Published 16.8.2024 / Updated 18.9.2025

Publisher

Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)