Building and demolition waste are materials, which accumulate during construction and demolition activities in above- and below-ground construction sites, as well as during road and bridge building. 90% of materials are created during the demolition, conversion and renovation of buildings. In Austria only about 10% of waste accumulates during the construction of new buildings.
In above-ground constructions, the waste that arises predominantly consists of concrete, brick and masonry breakages. This amounts to about 70% – 90% of the total amount. The remainder consists primarily of wood, metals and a variety of construction waste, as well as hazardous waste materials.
In below-ground construction sites, waste materials that generally build up are composed of excavation materials and also blends of supporting timber and reinforcement rods, as well as concrete demolition. In road building, waste materials that accumulate are asphalt and concrete demolition, as well as excavation materials. Apart from the aforementioned waste materials, track ballast also accumulates during the construction and restoration of railway tracks. (BAWP 2017)