| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1064286 | Resources, Conservation and Recycling | 2007 | 16 Pages |
The construction industry has both positive and negative repercussions on the environment. One of the main negative impacts is the generation of waste. Various types of instruments exist to manage construction and demolition wastes (C&DW). These include voluntary agreements between economic agents, planning, and technological development applied to specific projects. The present state of C&DW management is different in each country and/or region, and is determined by the management instruments used and the degree to which their content has been developed. As elsewhere, the rise of the construction sector in the Community of Madrid in recent years has brought about a notable increase in the generation of C&DW. In order to deal with this situation, the Autonomous Government has initiated several management instruments, including the Plan for Integrated Management of C&DW in the Community of Madrid (2002–2011). At the same time, some construction companies have implemented an environmental management system (EMS) in accordance with ISO Standard 14001, with a view to controlling the main environmental aspects associated with their activities, such as the generation of waste. These companies have established practical measures for the appropriate management of waste generated in their work centres and sites, whether permanent or temporary. This paper presents results of an analysis and evaluation of the application of ISO Standard 14001 to construction sites in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, with specific regard to practices of control and management of wastes generated on site, and to the fulfilment of legislation on waste management. The study aims to detect the deficiencies of EMS and current waste management instruments, and to determine the measures which may be necessary for improvement at all territorial levels (autonomous, national and supranational). In addition, some recommendations are made for promoting management of C&DW based on reuse and recycling in construction companies.
