In 2024, Germany received nearly 76 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste at facilities that process building materials and asphalt mixes. According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday, this figure represents a reduction of 13.2 percent, equating to 11.6 million tonnes, compared to the preceding reporting year of 2022.
The largest proportion of the accepted waste was construction debris-materials like concrete, bricks, tiles, and ceramics. This category accounted for 48.0 percent (36.4 million tonnes) of the total volume, showing a decline of 19.3 percent or 8.7 million tonnes since 2022. Additionally, road removal material (containing bitumen mixes, coal tar, and tar-containing products) made up 21.0 percent of the waste (15.9 million tonnes), while excavated soil (including earth, stones, and spoil, which covers railway ballast) constituted 16.7 percent (12.6 million tonnes).
Overall, 81.6 percent of the construction and demolition waste, totaling 61.9 million tonnes, was processed at dedicated building debris preparation plants. The remaining 18.4 percent, or 13.9 million tonnes, was utilized in asphalt mixing facilities. At these preparation plants, mineral construction waste, such as concrete, bricks, and ceramics, undergoes processing using various methods so it can later be used, for example, as recycled construction material. Furthermore, construction waste is pre-treated at these facilities before being incorporated into asphalt mixing plants.
In 2024, 9.7 million tonnes of such pre-processed construction waste were used in asphalt mixing plants. These types of facilities combine various materials, including sand, gravel, bitumen, and supplementary additives, to produce asphalt mixes with desired properties. These mixes are subsequently deployed at construction sites for building or repairing roads, walkways, or other asphalt surfaces.