Construction waste

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 the reporting, mineral waste does not include soil masses.

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.

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 the reporting, mineral waste does not include soil masses.

In 2023, 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.

In 2023, construction and demolition waste was utilized as material more than in the previous year. A total of 726,000 tons of waste ended up in material recovery, which corresponded to 54 percent of the generated construction and demolition waste. The material recovery rate did not change from the previous year due to increase in the generation of construction and demolition waste.

The amount also includes the amounts of construction and demolition waste diverted to landfill, which was approximately 48,000 tons. The share of landfilling decreased from the previous year.
 
The goal of the national waste plan is that by 2027, at least 70 percent of construction and demolition waste will be used as material.
 
In construction waste statistics, the preparation for re-use included in the total amount of material recovery has previously been estimated as indicative. Starting from 2017, the statistics have become more detailed regarding the amounts of waste diverted to landfill. In 2015-2016, the estimates of the amount of landfill waste were higher than the actual amount, which explains the decrease in the amount of material recovery in 2017.