Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Resources Optimization and Sustainable Waste Management in Construction Chain in Italy: Toward a Resource Efficiency Plan

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this paper, by focusing on the construction chain, is to provide a functional-cognitive framework for orienting the use of all the available resources including raw materials, products and by-products but also residues and wastes in order to support national resource efficiency policies, to identify potential actions and to achieve resources efficiency and sustainable waste management within the entire supply chain. A material flow analysis (MFA) has been developed, on a national basis in Italy, and extended to the whole chain of construction and quarrying activities as a tool to develop the cognitive approach using the most recent data on production, sale and import–export, and to establish the potential domestic demand for each product. Waste production, current management and the potential of reuse within the chain have been investigated for several categories of wastes. The potential substitution of raw materials by residues produced in other industrial sectors has been also investigated, identifying their current reuse rate, the potential not yet exploited as well as the operational constrains and the critical issues. From this analysis enormous potentialities emerge for waste valorization and raw material substitutions that nowadays are not adequately exploited. Significant efforts, in term of national policies and strategies are needed to effectively shift towards a full resources management efficiency and circular economy development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. European Commission, 31.7.2012: Strategy for the Sustainable Competitiveness of the Construction Sector and Its Enterprises. COM 433 (2012)

  2. European Commission, 2.12.2015: Closing the Loop: An EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. COM 614 (2015)

  3. European Commission, 20.9.2011: Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe. COM 571 (2011)

  4. European Commission, 21.12.2007: A Lead Market Initiative for Europe. COM 860 (2007)

  5. European Commission, 18.7.2007: Addressing the Challenge of Water Scarcity and Droughts in the European Union. COM 414 (2007)

  6. European Aggregates Association (UEPG): A Sustainable Industry for a Sustainable Europe. Annual Review 2015–2016. http://www.uepg.eu/uploads/Modules/Publications/uepg-ar2016-17_32pages_v04_small.pdf (2017). Accessed 15 Feb 2017

  7. European Commission: Service Contract on Management of Construction and Demolition Waste: Final Report. Paris, France. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/pdf/2011_CDW_Report.pdf (2011). Accessed 05 April 2014

  8. Luodes, H., Kauppila, P.M., Luodes, N., Aatos, S., Kallioinen, J., Luukkanen, S., Aalt, J.: Characteristics and the environmental acceptability of the natural stone quarrying waste rocks. Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ. 71(2), 257–261 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Pacheco-Torgal, F.: Eco-efficient construction and building materials research under the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020. Constr. Build. Mater. 51, 151–162 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. ISPRA: Rapporto Rifiuti Speciali (2015)

  11. European Commission, 1.7.2014: Resource Efficiency Opportunities in the Building Sector. COM 445 (2014)

  12. Luciano, A., Barberio, G., Mancuso, E., Sbaffoni, S., La Monica, M., Scagliarino, C., Cutaia, L.: Potential improvement of the methodology for industrial symbiosis implementation at regional scale. Waste Biomass Valorization 7, 1007–1015 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Cutaia, L., Luciano, A., Barberio, G., Sbaffoni, S., Mancuso, E., Scagliarino, C., La Monica, M.: The experience of the first industrial symbiosis platform in Italy. Environ. Eng. Manag. J. 7, 1521–1533 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Mancini, G., Nicosia, F.G., Luciano, A., Viotti, P., Fino, D.: An approach to an insular self-contained waste management system with the aim of maximizing recovery while limiting transportation costs. Waste Biomass Valorization 8, 1617–1627 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. European Commission: Strategic Implementation Plan for the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials: Part II Priority Areas, Action Areas and Actions. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/eip-raw-materials/en/system/files/ged/1027%2020130723_SIP%20Part%20II%20complet_0.pdf (2013). Accessed 20 Jan 2016

  16. Careddu, N., Dino, G.A.: Reuse of residual sludge from stone processing: differences and similarities between sludge coming from carbonate and silicate stones: Italian experiences. Environ. Earth Sci. 75, 1075 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Rao, A., Jha, K.N., Misra, S.: Use of aggregates from recycled construction and demolition waste in concrete. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 50, 71–81 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Martín-Morales, M., Zamoranob, M., Ruiz-Moyanoa, A., Valverde-Espinosa, I.: Characterization of recycled aggregates construction and demolition waste for concrete production following the Spanish Structural Concrete Code EHE-08. Constr. Build. Mater. 25(2), 742–748 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Pacheco-Torgal, F., Labrincha, J.A., Jalali, S., John, V.M.: Eco-Efficient Concrete. Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge (2013)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  20. Bassani, M., Bertola, F., Bianchi, M., Canonico, F., Marian, M.: Environmental assessment and geomechanical properties of controlled low-strength materials with recycled and alternative components for cements and aggregates. Cem. Concr. Compos. 80, 143–156 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Tasneem, K.M., Eun, J., Nam, B.: Leaching behaviour of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash mixed with Hot-Mix Asphalt and Portland cement concrete used as road construction materials. Road Mater. Pavement Des. 18(3), 687–712 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Bertolini, L., Carsana, M., Cassago, D., Quadrio Curzio, A., Collepardi, M.: MSWI ashes as mineral additions in concrete. Cem. Concr. Res. 34, 1899–1906 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lin, C.F., Wu, C.H., Ho, H.M.: Recovery of municipal waste incineration bottom ash and water treatment sludge to water permeable pavement materials. Waste Manag. 26, 970–978 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kokalj, F., Samec, N., Jurič, B.: Utilization of bottom ash from the incineration of separated wastes as a cement substitute. Waste Manag. Res. 23(5), 468–472 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Allegrini, E., Vadenbo, C., Boldrin, A., Astrup, T.F.: Life cycle assessment of resource recovery from municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash. J. Environ. Manag. 151, 132–143 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Toraldo, E., Saponaro, S., Careghini, A., Mariani, E.: Use of stabilized bottom ash for bound layers of road pavements.J. Environ. Manag. 121, 117–123 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gonçalves, D.R.R., Fontes, W.C., Mendes, J.C., Silva, G.J.B., Peixoto, R.A.F.: Evaluation of the economic feasibility of a processing plant for steelmaking slag. Waste Manag. Res. 34(2), 107–112 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kehagia, F.: Skid resistance performance of asphalt wearing courses with electric arc furnace slag aggregates. Waste Manag. Res. 27(3), 288–294 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lintz, R.C.C., Seydell, M.R.R.: Evaluation of tire rubber disposal in concrete for pavements. J. Urban Environ. Eng. 3(2), 52–57 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Tiwari, B., Ajmera, B., Moubayed, S., Lemmon, A., Styler, K., Martinez, J.G.: Improving geotechnical behavior of clayey soils with shredded rubber tires: preliminary study. Geotech Sp 234, 3734–3743 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Cossu, R., Fiore, S., Lai, T., Luciano, A., Mancini, G., Ruffino, B., Viotti, P., Zanetti, M.C.: Review of Italian experience on automotive shredder residue characterization and management. Waste Manag. 34, 1752–1762 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Mancini, G., Viotti, P., Luciano, A., Fino, D.: On the ASR and ASR thermal residues characterization of full scale treatment plant. Waste Manag. 34, 448–457 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Mancini, G., Viotti, P., Luciano, A., Raboni, M., Fino, D.: Full scale treatment of ASR wastes in a modified rotary kiln. Waste Manag. 34(11), 2347–2354 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Gurauskienė, I., Stasiškienė, Z.: Application of material flow analysis to estimate the efficiency of e-waste management systems: the case of Lithuania. Waste Manag. Res. 29(7), 763–777 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Dos Muchangos, L.S., Tokai, A., Hanashima, A.: Application of material flow analysis to municipal solid waste in Maputo City, Mozambique. Waste Manag. Res. 35(3), 253–266 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Dino, G.A., Fornaro, M.: L’utilizzo integrale delle risorse lapidee negli aspetti estrattivi, di lavorazione e di recupero ambientale dei siti. Giorn. Geol. Appl. 2, 320–327 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  37. AITEC: Rapporto di Sostenibilità (2015)

  38. AITEC: Relazione Annuale (2015)

  39. Zhang, T., Zhao, Z.: Optimal use of MSWI bottom ash in concrete. Int. J. Concr. Struct. Mater. 8, 173–182 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Biganzoli, L., Grosso, M.: Aluminium recovery from waste incineration bottom ash, and its oxidation level. Waste Manag. Res. 31(9), 954–959 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. ENEA: Federambiente: Rapporto sul Recupero Energetico da Rifiuti Urbani in Italia, 3rd edn (2012)

  42. Remus, R., Aguado-Monsonet, M.A., Roudier, S., Sancio, L.D.: The Best Available Techniques Reference Document for Iron and Steel Production. JRC Reference Report (2013)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Resource Valorization Laboratory, Department for Sustainability, ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Via Anguillarese 301, Rome, Italy

    A. Luciano, P. Reale, L. Cutaia, R. Carletti, R. Pentassuglia & G. Elmo

  2. Electric, Electronics and Computer Engineering Department, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, Catania, Italy

    G. Mancini

Authors
  1. A. Luciano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Reale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Cutaia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Carletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Pentassuglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. Elmo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. G. Mancini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Luciano.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Luciano, A., Reale, P., Cutaia, L. et al. Resources Optimization and Sustainable Waste Management in Construction Chain in Italy: Toward a Resource Efficiency Plan. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 5405–5417 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0533-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0533-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation